An uncommon inhabitant of two-year old needles of pines in Europe and, perhaps, west Asia. Fewer than 20 published records. If spraying against Dothistroma needle blight were to go ahead, this fungus could face collateral damage.

Estonia, Finland, Greece [1988], Hungary [2000], Ireland, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, UK [2008].

Records from January 1921. Most recent record 2008. Probably fewer than 20 published records ever. Some (e.g. Ukraine) doubtful. Considerable overlap of records between different on-line databases. Reports that it is frequently encountered in the UK may be erroneous (BROWN, pers.comm.).

Lophodermella conjuncta is found on needles in the second and third years of their life, and has been associated with premature leaf fall. Associated plants: Pinus mugo, P. nigra, P. sylvestris, Pinus sp. Other associated organisms: Cyclaneusma minus, Hendersonia acicola, Phaeoseptoria sp.

Recent outbreaks of Dothistroma needle blight have focused attention on control of pine needle diseases, including the possibility of control by spraying fungicide. If this were to proceed, there is a danger that L. conjuncta might populations might be unintentionally but adversely affected.

This is a very inconspicuous fungus. The true extent of its population is not known.

Anon. [UK Forestry Commission]. Path News Scotland & Northern Britain 5: 1 (2003) [www.forestry.gov.uk/pdf/pathnews05.pdf/$FILE/pathnews05.pdf]. Anon. [UK Forestry Commission]. Path News Scotland & Northern Britain 16: 1 (2008) [www.forestry.gov.uk/pdf/pathnews16.pdf/$FILE/pathnews16.pdf]. Anon. [Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Helsinki] Contingency Plan for Forest Damages (2012) [www.mmm.fi/attachments/metsat/6N0bFwlUZ/Varautuminen_metsatuhoihin_2012_english_doc.pdf]. Brown, A., Green, S. & Hendry, S. Needle diseases of pine. Forestry Commission, Edinburgh, UK, Information Note - Forestry Commission 67: 12, 35 refs (2005). Cech, T.L. Coming across other fungi on pine needles while looking for Dothistroma. COST - Dothistroma Training Workshop. Federal Research and Training Centre for Forests, Natural Hazards and Landscape, Brno, Czech Republic (2012) [www.forestry.gov.uk/pdf/DIAROD_052012_Fungi_Cech.pdf/$FILE/DIAROD_052012_Fungi_Cech.pdf]. Gürer, M. & Torun, G. Some foliage diseases on Scots pine, beach pine, red pine, eastern spruce and maple. Iç Anadolu Ormancılık Araştırma Enstitüsü Dergisi 81: 7-14, 3 refs (1997) [publ. 1998]. Millar, C.S. & Minter, D.W. Lophodermella conjuncta. CMI Descriptions of Pathogenic Fungi and Bacteria No. 658 (1980). Mitchell, C.P. & Millar, C.S. Mycofloral successions on Corsican pine needles colonized on the tree by three different fungi. Transactions of the British Mycological Society 71 (2): 303-317, 34 refs (1978). Mitchell, C.P., Millar, C.S. & Williamson, B. The biology of Lophodermella [Hypodermella] conjuncta Darker on Corsican pine needles. European Journal of Forest Pathology 8 (2): 108-118, 19 refs (1978). Terrier, C.A. Über zwei in der Schweiz bisher wenig bekannte Schuttepilze der Kiefern: Hypodermella sulcigena (Rostr.) v. Tub. und Hypodermella conjuncta Darker. Phytopathologische Zeitschrift 14: 442-449 (1944). Watson, A.R. & Millar, C.S. Hypodermataceous needle inhabiting fungi on pines in Scotland. Transactions of the Botanical Society of Edinburgh 41 (2): 250 (1971).

See also the following website:

http://www.aee.hu/downloads/kutatoi_nap_2001-2002.pdf [occurrence in Hungary]