Mal secco

Mal secco

Photo by G. Perrotta, Universita di Calabria, Bugwood.org

 

  • Found in the Mediterranean basin and Black Sea region, Israel, Turkey, Lebanon and parts of northern Africa
  • Infects most citrus including rootstocks, but most destructive on lemons and limes
  • Leaves wilt, dry up and fall followed by branch dieback
  • Infected bark on twigs may become silver grey, then rupture to show black fruiting bodies of the fungus
  • A red to orange internal discoloration develops in the trunk, brown in older tissue
  • Spores are spread by wind blown rain, insects, and workers or via infected plant material (can be symptomless)

Scientific name: Phoma tracheiphila
EPPRD Category: 3
Life Form: Fungus

Pest Documents

FS: fact sheet

CP: contingency plan

DP: diagnostic protocol