Sudden wilt of Pinus halepensis in Morocco
Since 1988, Aleppo pine stands (Pinus halepensis) in Morocco have suffered attacks of sudden wilt. In some cases, up to 70% of the observed trees showed wilting symptoms.
First investigations resulted in the identification of the fungus Sphaeropsis sapinea, nematodes of the genus Bursaphelenchus and insects of the genus Pityogenes. Preliminary inoculation studies indicated that S. sapinea caused the wilting while Bursaphelenchus did not. Further investigations are continuing.
Sources
Harrachi, K.; Ezzahiri, B.; Ammati, M. (1990) Preliminary study of aleppo pine wilt in Morocco.
Proceedings of the 8th Congress of the Mediterranean Phytopathological Union, 445 - 448.