Canker and dieback of camphor tree (Cinnamomum camphora) caused by Botryosphaeriaceae in Italy

During the winter of 2022, camphor trees (Cinnamomum camphora L.) showing symptoms of canker, wood discoloration and twig dieback were detected in a nursery located in Catania province of eastern Sicily, Italy. Samples were brought to the laboratory, and isolations revealed the presence of Botryosphaeriaceae spp. in symptomatic wood tissues. Representative isolates were sub-cultured and identified by sequencing. Specifically, the three loci (ITS, tef-1α, and tub2) were amplified by conventional PCR and sequenced. Phylogenetic analysis using the Maximum parsimony approach revealed that nine isolates were strongly clustered within the clade of Neofusicoccum parvum and one isolate within the clade of N. luteum. Pathogenicity tests were conducted by inoculating stems of 1-year-old camphor trees with mycelial plugs of three representative isolates of N. luteum and N. parvum. Nine days after the inoculation, the camphor trees showed the same symptoms as those observed in the nursery. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report worldwide of N. luteum and N. parvum causing disease in camphor tree.