Prof. Teresa Coutinho
Dept of Microbiology and Plant Pathology
Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute (FABI)
University of Pretoria
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Pantoea ananatis is the causal agent of bacterial blight and die-back of young eucalypts in South Africa.  This bacterium causes spots on the leaves which often coalesce to form larger lesions.  Shoot tip die-back may also occur.  The disease is particularly problematic in nurseries and mainly on E. grandis x E. nitens clones.

Gavin Hunter

Just as humans, trees are susceptible to infection by many disease causing micro-organisms. A large and perhaps the majority of microbial pathogens from trees are fungi. These fascinating organisms can infect the roots, stems and leaves of trees resulting in a wide array of disease symptoms. In severe cases, fungi can also cause the death of infected trees.

Ida Paul
Plant Pathologist
Small Grain Institute
Stellenbosch
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Stem rust, caused by Puccinia graminis Pers. f. sp. tritici Eriks. & E. Henn., is a highly damaging disease of wheat that primarily occurs in warm weather and can cause great damage to susceptible wheat crops.  Symptoms include raised orange to red pustules that occur on leaves, leaf sheaths, stems and ears of susceptible cultivars.  The masses of urediniospores appear similar to rust on a weathered iron surface.  In time these pustules turn black. 

Lizel Mostert
Department of Plant Pathology
University of Stellenbosch
Stellenbosch

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Petri disease and esca are serious diseases of young and old vines in most countries where grapevines (Vitis spp.) are cultivated.