First Report of Ceratocystis manginecans Causing Udeuid (Manilkara udoido) Wilt in Palau
| Authors: | Jason A. Johnson, Marc A. Hughes, Patrick I. Bennett, Omekrael Sadang, Kylle Roy, Duncan Kroese, Philip G. Cannon, Ned B. Klopfenstein, Thomas C. Harrington, Mee-Sook Kim |
| Year: | 2025 |
| Type: | Scientific Journal |
| Station: | Pacific Southwest Research Station |
| DOI: | https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-07-25-1554-PDN |
| Source: | Plant Disease |
Abstract
Udeuid (Manilkara udoido) is a culturally and ecologically important forest tree endemic to Babeldaob Island, Palau (Kitalong et al. 2014). Extensive mortality of mature udeuid trees was noted in late 2021. Dying trees had wilting and yellowing leaves, with main stems showing necrotic inner bark, black-stained xylem, and attacks by bark and ambrosia beetles. Losses exceeded 50% in several areas within the core range of udeuid. Because symptoms were suggestive of Ceratocystis wilt, samples of necrotic and stained inner bark and xylem, as well as beetle frass, were placed between fresh carrot discs and incubated at RT (Moller and DeVay 1968). Ceratocystis-like perithecia formed after 7 days, individual ascospore drops were transferred to agar media, and colonies were hyphal-tipped.