During the last few years chestnut (Castanea sativa Mill.) has displayed some signs of degradation in Azerbaijan. A number of parasitic saprophytic fungi have been noted: Sphaeropsis castaneae, Diplodia castaneae, Phoma endogena, Cylindrosporium castaneae, Coryneum kunzei, Cladosporium sp., and Mycosphaerella sp.
Ceratocystis castaneae (s.l.) was found frequently in young and old drying chestnuts. In this paper the anamorph stages of C. castaneae (Sporothrix and Graphium) are described for the first time. The optimum growth temperature of this fungus is 28-30degreeC, the most favourable relative humidity 90-100%, and the optimum pH 6-6.5. The fungus develops well in media containing saccharose, maltose or glucose as carbon sources and ammonium phosphate, urea or asparagine as nitrogen sources.