Type: Corticolous Fungi; Description: Ascomata stromatic, perithecial, aggregated in groups of 30–100 or more, globose, wall finely roughened, bright red becoming dark maroon red, 0.2–0.3 mm in diameter, ostiole papillate and surrounded by a dark ostiolar disc 40–60 dm in diameter, superficial, on an erumpent, dark stroma up to 10 mm long × 6 mm wide and 1–3 mm high; on wounds on stems. Asci cylindrical, 90–110 × 9–12 μm. Ascospores broadly elliptical, 1-septate, 14–18 × 6–7 μm, smooth to verruculose, hyaline. Macroconidia (in culture) cylindrical, 3–4-septate, 21–45 × 4–5 μm, smooth, hyaline. Microconidia oval, 0-septate (occasionally 1-septate), 5–7 × 2–4 μm, smooth, hyaline.

Distribution: Dunedin, Southland.; 1st Record: Gadgil et al. (2003).

Notes: Nectria fuckeliana is one of three similar species of nectriaceous fungi recorded on conifers. The other two, N. pinea (see p. 152, under Neonectria discophora var. discophora) and N. neomacrospora have both been transferred to the genus Neonectria (Mantiri et al. 2001), on the basis of molecular analyses and their production of Cylindrocarpon macroconidia. Brayford et al. (2004) found that Nectria fuckeliana cultures produced only microconidia and no Cylindrocarpon macroconidia, and were separate from the monophyletic Neonectria clade in molecular analyses; on this basis, they retained N. fuckeliana in Nectria sensu stricto. Gadgil et al. (2003), working with New Zealand isolates identified as Nectria fuckeliana, have reported that Cylindrocarpon macroconidia formed readily in paired cultures on sterilised pine twigs.

Significance: Frequently reported as an invader of wounds, mainly in Picea spp. in Europe (Roll-Hansen & Roll-Hansen 1980; Vasiliauskas & Stenlid 1998) and North America (Smerlis 1969; Ouellette 1972). In New Zealand, it has been consistently found on pruning wounds associated with long cankers extending several metres up into the green crown and almost to the base of the tree (M.Dick, New Zealand Forest Research Institute, pers. comm.). Affected stems are easily recognisable as they become fluted. The trees usually survive but growth slows and they become prone to wind breakage. Damage associated with the fungus is restricted to small groups of trees within a stand. The problem was recognised only recently and no economic evaluation of its effect is available.; Host(s): Pinus radiata.