Risk Background

This genus/species is a host of pitch canker.

Pitch canker is caused by the fungus Fusarium circinatum Nirenberg & O'Donnell; telemorph Gibberella circinata Nirenberg & O'Donnell.

Pitch canker is a significant disease of forest and urban trees not recorded in Australia.

In 2007, there were 1,010,000 ha of coniferous forest plantations in Australia (ABARE 2008). Of this area, 75 % is planted with Pinus radiata (Parsons et al. 2006). This resource is considered to be most at risk should pitch canker be introduced into and establish in Australia.

The disease is characterised by wilting, fading of needles on branch tips, and copious amounts of resin at or near the infection site. Needles become yellow, then red, and fall from the branch. Infected wood is slightly sunken and honey coloured, with resin. Trees can suffer crown dieback or may die. Also causes a damping off of seedlings in nurseries. Bark, twig and cone beetles are vectors of the disease.