Brown Spot Needle Blight (BSNB) Host tree species Distribution Introduction (formerly is the causal agent of Brown Lecanosticta acicola Mycosphaerella dearnessii), Spot Needle Blight (BSNB) on pines. The disease is present in over a dozen EU Member States (including Austria, Croatia, Estonia, France and Germany) and in several countries outside the EU (See world map below). It is usually a slowly spreading organism, but eradication efforts have only been partly successful to date. Host tree species Potentially all species of (pine) are hosts. Pinus BSNB Finding Samples taken by DAFM Forest Health Inspectors in early 2018 were analyzed and laboratory results confirmed the presence of on mountain pine (Pinus and L. acicola mugo) adjacent Scots pine (P. trees at an arboretum in Co. Wexford. . sylvestris) Impact of BSNB After a severe attack, the whole needle turns brown, then grey and abscises prematurely. In less severe attacks, needle cast may be delayed for 1 or 2 years. Heavily infected pines typically show twigs carrying only the on a current year’s needles. These take ‘paintbrush’ appearance as the disease develops. Over several years, the disease may result in branch and tree death.
Brown Spot Needle Blight (BSNB) Host tree species Distribution Introduction Lecanosticta acicola (formerly Mycosphaerella dearnessii), is the causal agent of Brown Spot Needle Blight (BSNB) on pines. The disease is present in over a dozen EU Member States (including Austria, Croatia, Estonia, France and Germany) and in several countries outside the EU (See world map below). It is usually a slowly spreading organism, but eradication efforts have only been partly successful to date. Host tree species Potentially all species of Pinus (pine) are hosts. BSNB Finding Samples taken by DAFM Forest Health Inspectors in early 2018 were analyzed and laboratory results confirmed the presence of L. acicola on mountain pine (Pinus mugo) and adjacent Scots pine (P. sylvestris) trees at an arboretum in Co. Wexford. . Impact of BSNB After a severe attack, the whole needle turns brown, then grey and abscises prematurely. In less severe attacks, needle cast may be delayed for 1 or 2 years. Heavily infected pines typically show twigs carrying only the current year’s needles. These take on a ‘paintbrush’ appearance as the disease develops. Over several years, the disease may result in branch and tree death.