First record of the fungus Setomelanomma holmii (Pleosporales, Phaeosphaeriaceae) on Picea abies in Bulgaria

Maria Dobreva; Margarita Georgieva; Pencho Dermendzhiev; Vasil Velinov; Rumen Nachev; Georgi Georgiev

Maria Dobreva; Margarita Georgieva https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3165-1992; Pencho Dermendzhiev; Vasil Velinov; Rumen Nachev; Georgi Georgiev https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5703-2597

1 July 2025 · volume 47 · (issue 7) · pp. 157–161 · PDF [full text]

Abstract: Spruce needle drop disease of Norway spruce (Picea abies) associated with a fungal pathogen Setomelanomma holmii (Pleosporales, Phaeosphaeriaceae) was established for the first time in Bulgaria in 2023. Severe symptoms of the disease were observed in 12.4% of 6-year old Norway spruce saplings planted in the nursery of Training and Experimental Forest Range, Yundola village (Southwest Bulgaria). Fruiting structures of the fungus were found on the branches and twigs of P. abies. Only current year needles remained on severely affected samplings. Symptoms of the disease were not detected on the Colorado blue spruce (Picea pungens) young trees planted in the same nursery.

Keywords: pathogen, Picea abies, Setomelanomma holmii, spruce needle drop

References [14]

Dobreva M., Georgieva M., Dermendzhiev P., Velinov V., Nachev R., Georgiev G. 2017 First record of Sirococcus conigenus on Norway spruce in Bulgaria. Silva Balcanica 18 (2): 49–52.

Eilers S., Grimme E., Kerzicnik L., Orloff N. 2021 A guide to pests, problems, and identification of ornamental shrubs and trees in Montana – EB0235. Sudden Needle Drop. Setomelanomma holmii (fungus). Montana State University

EPPO (European and Mediterranean Plant Protection Organization) 2019 Setomelanomma holmii (STMLHO) CBS 110217. https://gd.eppo.int/taxon/STMLHO

GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility) 2023 GBIF Backbone Taxonomy. Checklist dataset. GBIF https://doi.org/10.15468/39omei

Jayasiri S.C., Hyde K.D., Ariyawansa H.A., Bhat J., Buyck B., Cai L., Dai Y.C., Abd-Elsalam K.A., Ertz D., Hidayat I., Jeewon R., Jones E.B.G., Bahkali A.H., Karunarathna S.C., Liu J.K., Luangsa-ard J.J., Lumbsch H.T., Maharachchikumbura S.S.N., McKenzie E.H.C., Moncalvo J.M., Ghobad-Nejhad M., Nilsson H., Pang K.A., Pereira O.L., Phillips A.J.L., Raspé O., Rollins A.W., Romero A.I., Etayo J., Selçuk F., Stephenson S.L., Suetrong S., Taylor J.E., Tsui C.K.M., Vizzini A., Abdel-Wahab M.A., Wen T.C., Boonmee S., Dai D.Q., Daranagama D.A., Dissanayake A.J., Ekanayaka A.H., Fryar S.C., Hongsanan S., Jayawardena R.S., Li W.J., Perera R.H., Phookamsak R., de Silva N.I., Thambugala K.M., Tian Q., Wijayawardene N.N., Zhao R.L., Zhao Q., Kang J.C., Promputtha I. 2015 The Faces of Fungi database: fungal names linked with morphology, phylogeny and human impacts. Fungal Diversity 74 (1): 3–18. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13225-015-0351-8

Kosawang C., Amby D.B., Bussaban B., McKinney L.V., Xu J., Kjær E.D., Collinge D.B., Nielsen L.R. 2018 Fungal communities associated with species of Fraxinus tolerant to ash dieback, and their potential for biological control. Fungal Biology 122 (2–3): 110–120. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.funbio.2017.11.002

Menkis A., Marčiulynas A., Gedminas A., Lynikienė J., Povilaitienė A. 2015 High-throughput sequencing reveals drastic changes in fungal communities in the phyllosphere of Norway spruce (Picea abies) following invasion of the spruce bud scale (Physokermes piceae). Fungal Microbiology 70: 904–911. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00248-015-0638-z

Morelet M. 1980 Sur quatre Dothideales. Bulletin de la Société des sciences naturelles de Neuchâtel 36: 14–15.

O’Brien D.D. 2013 What is making my spruce tree drop its needles? Branching out IPM Newsletter 20 (9): 2 pp.

Pacia A., Borowik P., Hsiang T., Marozau A., Matic S., Oszako T. 2023 Ash dieback in forests and rural areas—history and predictions. Forests 14 (11): e2151. https://doi.org/10.3390/f14112151

Plewa D.E., Jossey S., Porter S.K., Bissonnette S.M. 2012 First report of spruce needle drop associated with Setomelanomma holmii on spruce in Illinois. Plant Disease 96: 459. https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS10110862

Rossman A.Y., Farr D.F., Castlebury L.A., Shoemaker R., Mengistu A. 2002 Setomelanomma holmii (Pleosporales, Phaeosphaeriaceae) on living spruce twigs in Europe and North America. Canadian Journal of Botany 80: 1209–1215. https://doi.org/10.1139/b02-111

Wu Z.-Q., Fan X., Yang T., Tian C., Liang Y.-M., Ma Y.-F., Zhang S.L. 2014 New record of Setomelanomma holmii on Picea crassifolia in China based on morphological and molecular data. Mycotaxon 128: 105–111. https://doi.org/10.5248/128.105

Zhang Y., Crous P.W., Schoch C.L., Hyde K.D. 2012 Pleosporales. Fungal Diversity 53: 1–221. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13225-011-0117-x