Abstract A description is provided for Nectria galligena . Information is included on the disease caused by the organism, its transmission, geographical distribution, and hosts. HOSTS: On apple ( Malus ) and pear ( Pyrus ). It has also been recorded on a large number of other hosts including: Acer, Betula, Carpinus, Carya, Fagus, Fraxinus, Juglans, Magnolia, Populus, Prunus, Quercus, Salix and Sorbus . DISEASE: Canker, crotch canker (40: 115), crown dieback, storage rot or late storage rot of fruits. Nectria eye-rot of fruit on tree. GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION: Distribution appears to coincide with the major apple and pear growing areas with the exception of Australia and its probable elimination from Tasmania. (CMI Map 38, Ed. 2, 1963). TRANSMISSION: Conidia spread by rain drops (42: 494; 45, 2689). A high R.H. is essential for ascospore discharge (40: 55; 42: 494), which occurs mainly in spring and autumn. Infection is chiefly by natural wounds, leaf scars (45, 2891), occasionally from the point of attachment of the fruits (42: 691) or from pruning wounds (43, 3250). Early discharge of the ascospores (in temperate regions) increases leaf scar infection and infection in northern temperate regions is most frequent between bud-burst (mid April) and shoot formation (late May) (42: 131).