Dothistroma pini and Dothistroma septosporum occur in Slovenia
In Slovenia, Dothistroma (red band) needle blight has been recorded since the 1970s, but disease symptoms have intensified during the last few years (EPPO RS 2009/182). It has now been demonstrated that needle blight is associated with two distinct fungal species Dothistroma pini and Dothistroma septosporum. Prior to this in Slovenia, only Mycosphaerella pini (anamorph: Dothistroma pini (EU Annexes)) was known to occur. In 2011 and 2012, symptomatic pine needles were collected from forest and ornamental pine trees (Pinus nigra subsp. nigra, Pinus nigra subsp. laricio, P. sylvestris, P. mugo) across Slovenia and tested for the presence of Dothistroma spp. Results showed that both D. pini and D. septosporum occur in Slovenia. D. septosporum alone was detected in samples of P. mugo which had been collected from parks and gardens in Ljubljana, Volčji Potok, and Stara Fužina. It was also detected in samples of P. sylvestris from a park in Ribčev Laz, and in samples of P. nigra subsp. nigra from a nursery in Rimš. D. pini together with D. septosporum were detected in samples of P. nigra subsp. laricio, P. nigra subsp. nigra and P. sylvestris which had been collected from native forest stands in Panovec, Pivka, and Podčetrtek, respectively. Considering the occurrence of D. pini at distant locations, the authors considered that the fungus has most likely been present in the country for several years. This is the first time that D. pini is reported from Slovenia.
Sources
Piškur B, Hauptman T, Jurc D (2013) Dothistroma needle blight in Slovenia is caused by two cryptic species: Dothistroma pini and Dothistroma septosporum. Forest Pathology. doi: 10.1111/efp.12059.