Survey of <i>Eucalyptus</i> Nursery Diseases in Central and South West Ethiopia

Eucalyptus (E. camaldulensis and E. globulus) is the most widely planted exotic tree species in Ethiopia, where it is utilized for construction materials, industries, and fuel wood. From 2012 to 2013, field studies were carried out in Jimma, West Shewa, and South West Shewa Zones of Oromia regional states, focusing on agro-ecological zones to investigate diseases and pathogens associated with seedlings. Nurseries of E. camandulesis and E. globulus located in various areas were surveyed, wherever possible at different stages of growth of seedlings. A total of 12 Eucalyptus spp. nurseries were surveyed across three different Oromia regional zones. Powdery mildew, damping-off, leaf spot, and wilting diseases affecting eucalyptus seedlings in nurseries were found on both eucalyptus species. During this investigation, nursery seedlings in the examined area became weakly infected and displayed visible symptoms on both Eucalyptus spp. Alteranria, Pestalotiopsis, Fusarium, Rhizoctonia solani, Cylindrocladium, Botrytis cinerea, Odium spp and Phoma spp, are associated with disease symptoms. All recorded diseases vary from place to place and bed to bed depending on seedling age, seedling type, and microclimatic condition and nursery management practices. More surveys and identification of nursery diseases and inoculum sources need to be conducted in order to suggest for management procedures to produce high quality seeding in Ethiopia.