How to recognise Red Band Needle Blight and Pine needle loss

There has been a dramatic increase in the outbreak of Red Band Needle Blight in Britain since the 1990’s. Red Band Needle Blight affects coniferous trees. Until recently, it was found more in the Southern hemisphere. However, with climate change causing warmer Spring temperatures and higher rainfall in Spring and Summer in Britain, Red Band Needle Blight is more widespread.

So how do you recognise Red Band Needle Blight (Fungus Dothistroma Septosporum) in coniferous trees including Corsican Pine, Lodgepole Pine and other Pines and Larches?

Firstly, this catastrophic disease causes the browning of the ends of pine needles.
It is easiest to spot in May to July when new needles are growing.
Needle defoliation usually starts in lower crown of trees.

Here’s how to recognise Red Band Needle Blight.

Do your coniferous trees look red/brown and the needles are dying off?
Are the defoliating needles leaving bare patches on the branches?
Other signs to look for;
• In late Autumn, yellow bands or tan spots start at the point of infection. These bands soon turn red/red brown.
• End of needles die back to the lowest point of infection.
• *Characteristic browning at distal ends of needles whilst the base remains green.(This is especially easy to spot on needles of 1 year or older.)
• Best time to look for signs of Red band Needle Blight is May- July with new needle flush.
• Defoliation starts in lower crown in plantations where disease is active.
• Disease commences on older needles, (though foliage of any age can be affected.)
• Lower branches can lose all their needles.
• In Autumn, once needles are shed, the tree crowns look sparse as old needles drop off.
• Isolated tufts of current year’s needles are left and remain at branch tips.


Pines are the most economically significant tree species in the world (Ian Noel, pers comm.)Red Band Needle Blight causes catastrophic lowering of forestry yields and economic loss as well as a considerable aesthetic loss to woodlands and the decline in visual and landscape amenity.

The disease has its most pronounced effect on Corsican Pine (Pinus nigra ssp Laricio) Corsican pine is the main conifer grown in Britain as it makes up 21% of Britain’s coniferous planting.
It also causes lasting damage to Lodgepole Pine (Pinus contorta var Latifolia.)

Scots Pine (Pinus sylvestris) can be susceptible when it is located close to stands of wood with a high concentration of infected trees. The worse affected trees are also the three most planted Pines species grown in Britain. So, the recognition of Red band Needle Blight is vital in its control.

Other species affected;
Sitka Spruce (Picea sitchensis)
Radiata Pine (Pinus radiata)
Ponderosa Pine (Pinus ponderosa)
Austrian Pine(Pinus nigra)
Bishops Pine (Pinus muricata)
Maritime Pine (Pinus maritime)
Weymouth Pine (Pinus strobus)
Pinus Mugo ssp Uncinata (Mountain Pine) and Pinus Peuce (Macedonian Pine.)


Apart from Pines, other conifers affected are;
European Larch (Larix decidua)
Douglas Fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii)
Norway Spruce (Picea Abies)
Sitka Spruce.

These are affected when located close to a highly infected crop.
The seedlings of these trees are also affected.

• This disease has a striking effect on diameter and height growth in trees as well as the loss of aesthetic value. (A mean crown infection of 70% resulted in a 68% decrease in mean annual volume.) (Brown, unpublished data.)
• Once crown infection exceeds 40%, the increment loss is more than 40% (Forestry Commission statistics.)
• Control is by thinning trees, stand manipulation, pruning and by reduction in dense understorey which cause higher humidity levels at base of crown and favour development of the pathogen (Villebonne & Maugard, 1999)

There is currently a moratorium in Forestry Commission plantations on planting of Corsican Pine.
Moreover, there is no replacement species for timber production. Strangely enough, the much maligned Leylandii could become our new timber tree!

As 10 hours or more of needle wetness is required for infection by Dothistroma Septosporum, we will need to continue to adjust our management of coniferous woodlands. Judicious management will be needed to help to slow down this disease which could also affect genetic diversity of the Pinus species.

Without intervention, aesthetic landscape value will continue to be eroded with economic losses caused by Red Band needle Blight in British Woodlands, if the current climatic trend towards warmer British Springs and wetter British summers continues.