Pacific Pests, Pathogens and Weeds

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Summary

• Worldwide distribution. The fungi that cause these diseases (commonly, Ganoderma and Trametes) have a very wide host range, including many forest, fruit and plantation trees, including palms. Important diseases.
• The fungi cause white rots in roots and trunks, causing slow dieback and death. The brackets that develop remain for many years, producing millions of spores.
• Spread is either root-to-root or spores infect through wounds. Spores travel long distances on the wind.
• Cultural control: make regular checks for brackets and, if found, dig out infected trees, with the main roots, and burn; seek the source of infection, e.g., old stump of forest tree; plant ground legumes to hasten decay of stumps; do not damage healthy trees: stop people cutting the bark with bush knives!
• Chemical control: none recommended.