Disease: Lecanosticta needle blight or brown spot needle blightPathogen: Mycosphaerella dearnessii (ZYMV)Hosts: pines, especially Scot’s pine (Pinus sylvestris)
Plant pathogens can affect many traditional Christmas decorations such as these Christmas trees that are infected by Lecanosticta needle blight (caused by the fungus Mycosphaerella dearnessii) on Scot's pine Christmas trees. (Photo courtesy R. Patton)