Phytophthora cinnamomi — the Cause of Severe Disease in Certain Native Communities in Victoria

Abstract

Evidence is provided that die-back disease in certain Victorian sclerophyll forests is caused by one fungus, P. cinnamomi. The pathogen is not a common soil component but has evidently been intro- duced with road-making and soil or gravel transport. Preliminary results are presented of the effects of severe bushfire on the presence of inoculum at various soil depths. The implications resulting from investigations into disease in Victorian forests are discussed with reference to work published on disease associated with the same pathogen in more northern areas of coastal Australia.