Pestalotiopsis canker of cypress in Israel

The occurrence of a new type of canker on stems and branches of cypress trees(Cupressus sempervirens L.) in Israel is reported.Pestalotiopsis funerea (Desm.) Steyaert was isolated from the cankers. Its pathogenicity was confirmed by formation of typical disease symptoms in inoculated plants and reisolation of that fungus from the cankers. Canker development was significantly enhanced when extreme water stress (water potential of -4.7 MPa) was imposed prior to inoculation.