Scots Pine Rapid Die Back

[Stere]

I thought  drought  stressed trees are alot more vunerable to various fungal infections so theese things  are combination of  different factors maybe?

 

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Frontiers | Sphaeropsis sapinea and Associated Endophytes in Scots Pine: Interactions and Effect on the Host Under Variable Water Content

WWW.FRONTIERSIN.ORG

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The ascomycete Sphaeropsis sapinea is the causal agent of the Diplodia Tip Blight disease on pines and other conifer...

 

 

 

Heres an example^

 

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The ascomycete Sphaeropsis sapinea is the causal agent of the Diplodia Tip Blight disease on pines and other conifer species. This fungus has a symptomless endophytic life stage. Disease symptoms become visible when trees have been weakened by abiotic stress, usually related to warmer temperatures and drought. Currently, this disease is observed regularly in Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) sites in parts of Europe, such as Germany, increasing dramatically in the last decade.

 

 

 

[Ben_Mason_Arb]

Went for a walk this morning here in East Sussex to look at some woodland we worked in last year. There were 4 fairly mature Scots pines in a small copse that have browned off and appeared dead standing. One looked like it was been attacked by boring insects? Another mature specimen was dead standing with all the foliage browned off, a few boring holes were visible and there was dark sap/seepage on main stem. Trees were all healthy this time last year. First time I have seen Scot’s Pine in this area dying off so quickly.
Ben 

[openspaceman]

This could be a group lightning strike, it can happen that there is no sign of damage but the sudden current passing through the ground kills off near surface roots.

[Ben_Mason_Arb]

27 minutes ago, openspaceman said:

This could be a group lightning strike, it can happen that there is no sign of damage but the sudden current passing through the ground kills off near surface roots.

Really interesting thought thank you! There was one other Scots Pine adjacent to the four pictured that was in decline also. 
Ben