Records of foliage pathogens of Pinus species in tropical countries

Mycosphaerella gibsonii is reported from 19 countries on 24 Pinus spp., especially from seedlings and young plants, including first records for eight countries and five hosts. Mycosphaerella pini is also reported from 12 countries on 10 Pinus spp., especially from derelict research plots and abandoned plantations, including new records for Nepal, Philippines, Sri Lanka and Zambia. Records of M. gibsonii and M. pini from remote native blue pine forests and M. gibsonii from native Chir pine forests in Nepal suggest that both fungi are endemic to the Himalayan region as well as to Central America. Variation between ecotypes of these fungi from Asia and Africa suggests that both fungi are present in these regions as different ecotypes. Records of Sphaeropis sapinea confirm its widespread occurrence as a shoot blight pathogen and as a facultative pathogen in tropical countries; whereas the paucity of records for M. dearnessii and needle rusts ( Coleosporium spp.) suggests that spread of these fungi is less readily achieved.