Cryphonectria canker on Tibouchina in Colombia

Cryphonectria canker, caused byCryphonectria cubensis, has limited the development of newEucalyptusplantations in tropical and subtropical regions. The pathogen is commonly found onEucalyptus, but its occurrence on other hosts in theMyrtaceaehas also been documented. In this studyC. cubensisis reported as the causal agent of a serious canker disease onTibouchinaspp. (Melastomataceae) in Colombia. We used morphological studies, pathogenicity tests onEucalyptusandTibouchina, and a phylogenetic study using partial ribosomal DNA sequence data. This is the first record ofC. cubensison a host outside theMyrtaceae.