Phacidium infestans. [Descriptions of Fungi and Bacteria].
Abstract A description is provided for Phacidium infestans. Information is included on the disease caused by the organism, its transmission, geographical distribution, and hosts. HOSTS: Pinus sylvestris. DISEASE: Snow blight of pine. Ascospores released in September and October (45, 774) infect current year's needles. The depth of snow cover the following winter determines the proportion of needles showing symptoms (39, 250) which are, the following spring, a distinctive reddish-brown resulting from the destruction of chlorophyll (40, 635). Apothecia are produced on the discoloured needles, and usually complete the cycle in one year. Disease severity may be lessened by other ground vegetation, especially Calluna vulgaris and Vaccinium spp. (50, 2009). GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION: Asia (Turkey, USSR: Siberia), Europe (Finland, France, Norway, Sweden, USSR: Estonia). TRANSMISSION: By air-borne ascospores in humid or wet weather.