Tree Protection Co-operative Programme Research Articles

First report of the giant conifer aphid, Cinara pinivora (Wilson) and the Monterey pine aphid, Essigella californica (Essig) (Hemiptera: Aphididae) in South Africa

Pine aphids represent a significant group of insect pests in coniferous ecosystems worldwide. To assess pine aphid prevalence and potentially new introductions in South Africa, aphid samples from various pine-growing regions were collected through national surveys conducted by the Tree Protection Co-operative Programme (TPCP) and directly sent from landowners to the FABI Diagnostic Clinic. Morphological examination and DNA barcoding confirmed two previously unreported aphid species as Cinara pinivora and Essigella californica. To our knowledge, this is the first report of these North American native aphids in South Africa. This study provides an important reference for future research aimed at safeguarding South Africa’s pine plantations against emerging threats from invasive aphid species.

Community composition and distribution of Phytophthora species across adjacent native and non-native forests of South Africa

The University of Pretoria, the members of the Tree Protection Co-operative Programme and the Department of Science and Technology - National Research Foundation Centre of Excellence in Tree Health Biotechnology.

New Botryosphaeriales on native red milkwood (Mimusops caffra)

Members of the Tree Protection Cooperative Programme (TPCP), the DST/NRF Centre of Excellence in Tree Health Biotechnology (CTHB) and the University of Pretoria, South Africa.

Population genetic analyses of complex global insect invasions in managed landscapes: a Leptocybe invasa (Hymenoptera) case study

Members of the Tree Protection Co-operative Programme (TPCP), the THRIP Initiative of the Department of Trade and Industry and the National Research Foundation (NRF) (NRF Grant Number 88227).

Host specificity of co‐infecting Botryosphaeriaceae on ornamental and forest trees in the Western Balkans

SummaryThe Botryosphaeriaceae is a diverse family of endophytes and fungal pathogens of mainly woody plants. We considered the host range and distribution of these fungi by sampling diseased ornamental and forest trees and shrubs in Serbia, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, spanning a Mediterranean and a Continental climatic region. In total, ten Botryosphaeriaceae species were identified in the Western Balkans and with the exception of Sphaeropsis visci and Phaeobotryon cupressi, which occurred on one host, all the species had a broader host range. Phaeobotryon cupressi was found only in the Mediterranean region and S. visci, Dothiorella sp., Dothiorella sarmentorum and Diplodia seriata were present only in the Continental region. Pathogenicity tests were conducted on a variety of hosts from which the Botryosphaeriaceae species were isolated. These included leaves and/or stems of seedlings of 21 hosts, and cut leaves and/or branches of six hosts. Moreover, stems of seedlings of Chamaecyparis lawsoniana, Cedrus deodara, Picea omorika, Pinus patula and Eucalyptus grandis were inoculated as hosts from which some or all of the Botryosphaeriaceae species used for inoculation were not isolated. Inoculations showed that the majority of these fungi could also co‐infect hosts other than those from which they were isolated. The results suggest that most of the species have broad host ranges and can potentially cause disease on a broad range of tree species under certain conditions.

Bretziella, a new genus to accommodate the oak wilt fungus, Ceratocystis fagacearum (Microascales, Ascomycota)

The Tree Protection Cooperative Programme (TPCP), the NRF/DST Centre of Excellence in Tree Health Biotechnology (CTHB), and the University of Pretoria.

Challenges to planted forest health in developing economies

Members of the Tree Protection Cooperative Programme (TPCP), the National Research Foundation (NRF) and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) of South Africa.

The unified framework for biological invasions: a forest fungal pathogen perspective

The DST/NRF Centre of Excellence in Tree Health Biotechnology, the National Research Foundation (South Africa) and the Tree Protection Cooperative Programme (TPCP).

Fungal Genomics Challenges the Dogma of Name-Based Biosecurity.

The Tree Protection Co-operative Programme (TPCP), THRIP initiative of the Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Science and Technology (DST)/ National Research Foundation (NRF), and Centre of Excellence in Tree Health Biotechnology (CTHB).

Six Recently Recorded Australian Insects Associated withEucalyptusin South Africa

Members of the Tree Protection Co-operative Programme (TPCP), the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the National Research Foundation (NRF).

TheEucalyptusstem canker pathogenTeratosphaeria zuluensisdetected in seed samples

National Research Foundation of South Africa (Grant specific unique reference number (UID83924).Tree Protection Co-operative Program (TPCP), the THRIP initiative of the Department of Trade and Industry and the DST/NRF Centre of Excellence in Tree Health Biotechnology (CTHB) based in the Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute (FABI), University of Pretoria, South Africa.

First report ofTeratosphaeria zuluensiscausing stem canker ofEucalyptus grandisin Uganda

National Research Foundation (NRF), members of the Tree Protection Cooperative Programme (TPCP) and the THRIP Initiative of the Department of Trade and Industry, South Africa.

EVALUATION OF MANGO CULTIVARS FOR RESISTANCE TO INFECTION BY CERATOCYSTIS MANGINECANS

The Tree Protection Co-operative Programme (TPCP), National Research Foundation (NRF) in South Africa, the Ministry of Agriculture and Sultan Qaboos University in Sultanate of Oman and Food and Agriculture organization (FAO).