Valdensinia heterodoxa Peyronel is polyphagous fungus infecting many species of herbaceous plants, shrubs and trees. The geographical range of the pathogen area includes Europe, North America and Asia. The fungus was classified as ascomycetes (Sclerotiniaceae). The fungus was rarely observed at a perfect stage. The pathogen spreads by conidia – staurospores and overwinters as sclerotia or mycelium on fallen infected leaves. The pathogen causes leaf spots and defoliation of the shoot. In the recent years, the pathogen has begun to play a significant role among the economically important crops including bilberry and highbush blueberry. In Polish climatic conditions the pathogen was recorded back in the 20's of the XX–century, but its biology and epidemiology have not been well recognized yet. Due to the increasing importance of highbush blueberry crop, it is worthwhile to extend knowledge of life cycle and harmfulness of V. heterodoxa with respect to this species crop.

Valdensinia heterodoxa jest grzybem zasiedlającym wiele gatunków roślin zielnych, krzewów i drzew. Zasięg występowania patogena obejmuje rejon Europy, Ameryki Północnej oraz Azji. Grzyb został zaklasyfikowany do typu Ascomycota, rodziny Sclero-tiniaceae. W stadium doskonałym jest rzadko obserwowany. Rozprzestrzenia się przez zarodniki konidialne zwane staurokonidiami. Zimuje w postaci sklerocjów lub grzybni na opadłych, porażonych liściach. Patogen jest sprawcą plamistości liści oraz defoliacji pędów. W ostatnich latach zaczyna odgrywać znaczącą rolę jako patogen roślin uprawnych ważnych gospodarczo, m.in. borówki czarnej i bo-rówki wysokiej. W warunkach klimatycznych Polski patogen był notowany już w latach 20. XX wieku, jednak jego biologia i epide-miologia nie jest jeszcze dobrze poznana. W związku ze wzrastającym znaczeniem upraw borówki wysokiej, wydaje się niezbędne poszerzenie wiadomości dotyczących cyklu życiowego oraz szkodliwości V. heterodoxa w stosunku do roślin tego gatunku. 

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