Lophodermium pinastri and an unknown species of Teratosphaeriaceae are associated with needle cast in a Pinus radiata selection trial

Spring needle cast (SNC) in Tasmania is defined by the early casting of pine needles and appears in 6- to 7-year-old pine plantations after canopy closure. The severity of SNC can vary significantly among trees growing within the same plantation. Fungal communities were surveyed in a Pinus radiata family trial, using DNA extraction from needles, PCR with fungal-specific primers and sequencing to detect the presence of fungal species. Samples were taken at the same time as the trees were scored for disease severity. Trees with contrasting levels of SNC disease severity have significantly different needle fungal communities, but family pedigree and different ages of needle are not clearly distinguished by their fungal communities. All common fungal pathogens previously implicated in causing SNC were identified from the study, but of these, only Lophodermium pinastri was correlated with high levels of disease. Several species of Teratosphaeriaceae were detected, and one of these was also strongly associated with needle cast.