Abstract:
Dothistroma needle blight (DNB), caused by Dothistroma septosporum and Dothistroma
pini, is a highly damaging disease of pine. DNB was originally considered a problem on exotic
Pinus radiata plantations in the Southern Hemisphere and on both exotic and native pines in
parts of North America in the 1960s. Since the mid-1990s, however, DNB has increased in
importance in various parts of the world, including Europe. On susceptible species, DNB
causes premature needle drop, a loss of yield and, in some circumstances, mortality. In
some areas, DNB is controlled by the application of copper-based fungicides and silvicultural
techniques, such as thinning and pruning. In New Zealand, there has also been a long history
of selection of more resistant P. radiata for use in breeding programmes. A richer
understanding of the resistance mechanisms involved in the Dothistroma–Pinus interaction
will play a critical role in helping the development of sustainable integrated DNB
management strategies. This review therefore summarizes current knowledge of defence
mechanisms involved in the defence of Pinaceae against needle and shoot pathogens and
identifies research gaps. Collaborative research efforts from countries directly or indirectly
affected by DNB are rapidly generating new knowledge to address these gaps.
