Lasiodiplodia theobromae

Lasiodiplodia theobromae is a fungal species in the family Botryosphaeriaceae within the division Ascomycota that causes rotting and dieback in most of the plant species it infects. It is a significant post-harvest pathogen of citrus fruit, where it causes stem end rot, and it also causes bot canker disease in grapevines, alongside a broad host range that includes guava, coconut, papaya and durian, as well as baobab trees in southern Africa. The fungus spreads through spores carried by wind and rain splash and typically infects plants through fresh wounds or freshly cut tissue such as pruning cuts, so management relies mainly on cultural practices like avoiding pruning during wet weather, minimizing wound size, and treating cut surfaces with fungicide to prevent infection and limit economic losses across the many crops it affects.