Gummosis and wilt of Acacia mearnsii in South Africa caused by Ceratocystis fimbriata

A dieback of Acacia mearnsii trees was observed in the Mkomasi river valley, Natal Province, South Africa. A fungus, tentatively identified as Ceratocystis fimbriata, was consistently isolated from affected twigs and branches. Reinoculation of the pathogen resulted in the development of typical wilt and dieback of A. mearnsii seedlings and saplings and in a dieback of Protea cynaroides plants. This is the first report of this disease in South Africa.