First record of Ceratocystis fimbriata associated with shisham (Dalbergia sissoo) decline in Pakistan

Abstract

Ceratocystis fimbriata has been associated with decline disorders of several fruit and forest trees. In 2006 this pathogen was isolated for the first time from declining mango trees in Pakistan. It has also recently been isolated from samples of declining shisham trees and pathogenicity tests have confirmed that it is indeed responsible for the decline disorders observed on shisham tress in Pakistan. This is the first record of C. fimbriata in association with shisham decline and the first time it is demonstrated to be the etiological agent of this important disease.