Distribution and hosts of Scleroderris lagerbergii in Europe and North America.

This contribution deals with the distribution of the fungus Scleroderris lagerbergii in Europe and in North America based on the present-day knowledge. A detailed bibliography of host-plants in the genera Pinus and Picea is included in the article. Until recently little was known regarding the distribution of Scleroderris lagerbergii since it could not be proved with certainty from existing reports that this organism in fact being dealt with. Various fungi may cause dieback of pine twigs or even colonize dying or dead twigs. Moreover, as a result of extensive outbreaks in northern and central Europe towards the end of the last century and the beginning of this century, Scleroderris lagerbergii became so popular that many cases of damage in pine were ascribed to this fungus without a thorough microscopical examination.