Abstract
A description is provided for Canavirgella banfieldii. Information is included on the disease caused by the organism, its transmission, geographical distribution, and hosts. DISEASE: Early-season blight of current-year needles of five-needle pines in the north-eastern USA. The disease has been widely attributed to ozone injury, or incorrectly identified as Meloderma desmazieresii under the earlier synonym Hypoderma desmazieresii. HOSTS: Leaves of Pinus peuce, P. strobus. Most observations are on P. strobus. Adjacent P. flexilis and P. strobiformis were uninfected. GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION: USA (Maine, New Hampshire, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia). TRANSMISSION: By air-borne ascospores in humid conditions.