First report of Mycosphaerella pini in Norway
During a survey conducted in August 2009 in northern Norway, typical symptoms of red band needle blight were observed in 4 young stands of Pinus sylvestris (Scots pine). These affected stands were located on humid sites, near rivers, in the municipalities of Bardu and Målselv (Troms county). The presence of Mycosphaerella pini (EU Annexes) could be confirmed in diseased pine trees. In June 2010, a survey was carried out in southern Norway. Approximately 100 stands of P. sylvestris were inspected and symptoms of red band needle blight were observed in 10 stands in the municipalities of Eidskog, Kongsvinger and Trysil (Hedmark county), and in 1 stand in the municipality of Nedre Eiker (Buskerund county). This is the first time that M. pini is reported from Norway.
The situation of Mycosphaerella pini in Norway can be described as follows: Present, first detected in 2009 in several P. sylvestris stands in the north (Troms county) and in the south (Buskerund and Hedmark counties).
Sources
Solheim H, Vuorinen M (2011) First report of Mycosphaerella pini causing red band needle blight on Scots pine in Norway. Plant Disease 95(7), p 875.