First report of shoot blight and canker caused by Diplodia coryli in hazelnut trees in Chile.

Shoot blight, twig and branch cankers with grayish discoloration, roughened tissue, and dieback were observed in 5-year-old European hazelnut trees (Corylus avellana L.) cv. Barcelona at two commercial plantations in the Allipen locality, Region de La Araucania (38° 59′ 24.76″ S, 72° 29′ 35.58″ W), Chile, during the 2011 to 2012 growing season. In addition, discoloration of the wood was observed in cross-sections. In order to isolate the causal agent, entire twigs and shoot fragments with cankers were sterilized in 0.5% sodium hypochlorite for 2 minutes, followed by two rinses with sterile distilled water. The tissues were then stored in a humid chamber. Sub-epidermal black pycnidia with sporulation were detected on the symptomatic tissue. Conidia were transferred to potato dextrose agar (PDA) (Difco, Lawrence, KS) and incubated at 25°C in the dark. The mycelia were black, creeping, and compact in appearance. The mature conidia were dark brown with a single septum, slightly constricted at the septum, and ...