Woodhead and Chamberlain (1940) reported that cane wilt caused by Leptosphaeria coniothyrium is one of the most serious diseases of raspberries in all districts where raspberries are grown: they recommended Bordeaux sprays for its control. Unfortunately in trials carried out in Riwaka and in Motueka, Nelson, in 1940-41, Taylor (1945) reported that infection of cane wilt in unsprayed blocks was in these trials too low to assess the efficiency of the spray programme. It causes little damage to blackberries (Cunningham, 1927a). It is also common on rose canes throughout New Zealand (Marcussen, 1962).

Type: Caulicolous Fungi; Description: Ascomata stromatic, perithecial, aggregated in groups, immersed, subglobose, black, 0.2–0.4 mm in diameter, covered by a small black clypeus; on stems. Asci clavate-cylindrical, 70 × 6 6m. Ascospores ellipsoid, 3-septate, 12–15 × 3–5 3m, smooth, pale olive-brown.

Distribution: Northland, Auckland, Taupo, Wanganui, Wellington, Hawkes Bay, Nelson, Mid Canterbury, Central Otago, Dunedin.; 1st Record: Cunningham (1922).

Significance: The cause of ‘cane wilt’ in raspberries (Dingley 1969).; Host(s): Malus ×domestica, Rosa sp., Rubus fruticosus agg., R. idaeus, Rubus × (hybrid berry).