Dear all, We would like to invite you to submit an abstract for an oral/poster contribution to our technical session on needle diseases of conifers at the 2024 IUFRO Congress in Stockholm<https://www.iufro.org/events/congresses/2024/>. Session title: Needle diseases of conifers: a globally rising threat to natural and planted forests Session number: T1.20 Session Description: The damage caused by foliar pathogens in coniferous forests is on the rise globally, causing severe concerns for the management of both planted and natural forests. While some pathogens are host specific, such as the causal agent of Swiss needle cast on Douglas fir, others, such as those in Dothistroma or Lecanosticta, colonize a variety of hosts. Regardless, they are causing sporadic outbreaks across the globe, likely due to climate change or the mostly accidental introduction of new strains into areas. Despite the numerous species that can be classified as needle diseases (e.g., those in the genera Coleosporuim, Dothistroma, Lecanosticta, Lophodermella, Lophodermium, Passalora, Phaeocryptopus, and Rhizosphaera, just to name a few), they have many traits in common, even across those colonizing different host species, and current research on needle diseases can benefit from exchanging experiences from different systems. This session will cover and welcome a broad range of topics related to both pathogens and endophytes of needles, including their origin and dispersal, their geographic distribution, management options, the differential susceptibility of their hosts, and their resistance mechanisms. We will also cover current advances in pathogen genomics and population genetics, as well as diagnostics. Session Organizers: Irene Barnes (FABI, South Africa), Michelle Cleary (SLU, Sweden), and Caterina Villari (UGA, USA). The session includes talks and posters and the deadline for submission is 2 June 2023: https://iufro2024.com/call-for-congress-abstract. We hope you will consider contributing to this session! Best regards, Caterina, Irene, and Michelle ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Caterina Villari (she/her) Associate Professor Co-Director - Southern Pine Health Research Cooperative 706-389-5031 Office 706-542-0119 Lab cvillari(a)uga.edu Villari Forest Pathology Lab<https://warnell.uga.edu/about/centers-labs/villari-forest-pathology-… southernpinehealth.org<https://southernpinehealth.org/> D.B. Warnell School of Forestry & Natural Resources University of Georgia 180 E Green Street Athens, GA 30602 Integrated Plant Sciences: ips.uga.edu<https://ips.uga.edu/>