The canker stain disease of plane tree in Marseilles and in the south of France

Platanus accrifolia Hyb. is attacked by a serious disease: the canker stain. The responsible agent is an Ascomycete, Ceratocystis fimbriata f. platani which is extremely virulent. During the last twelve years, it has killed more than 1,800 plane trees in the streets of Marseilles. This disease was until now strictly localized in north America.