A new disease caused by a fungus is attacking Oregon Pine (Pseudotsuga menzziesii) and Monterrey Pine (Pinus radiata) in Chile. The fungus Pestalozzia veronicae is described for the first time and belongs to the class Deuteromycetes or Fungi Imperfecti, order Melanconiales, family Melanconiaceae, sub-family Phaeophragniae. The fungus causes twig blight, necrosis, growing point fall-off and damping-off of Oregon Pine seedlings in the nursery. lt also attacks epiphyticalIy young Monterrey Pine trees, causing pine needle fall in the high relative humidity zones of southern Chile. |