Browning and death of branch tips, common in older, well-established pine plantings, is often due to Sphaeropsis tip blight (also known as Diplodia tip blight), a fungal disease caused by Sphaeropsis sapinea (syn. Diplodia pinea). Infection kills major branches and may even kill the entire tree under high disease pressure.

Sphaeropsis tip blight, formerly known as Diplodia tip blight, is one of the most damaging diseases of pines in Nebraska. It is caused by Sphaeropsis sapinea. The fungus severely affects Austrian pine but can also infect Ponderosa, Scotts and Mugo pine. Trees are susceptible at any age but the most damage is generally seen on mature trees (30 years or older). The fungus over winters as fruiting bodies (pycnidia) on needles, fascicile sheaths, the scales of second-year seed cones, and bark. Conidiospores are released from pycnidia in the spring during periods of wet weather. The spores are rain splashed to shoots. High humidity is necessary for spore germination and infection. Needle infection occurs through stomata; succulent stems are infected directly through the epidermis. New shoots are most susceptible for a two-week period which begin at bud break. Sphaeropsis sapinea rapidly becomes established and eventually kills the shoot. Older shoots may become infected if they have been injured by hail, insects or pruning. Pycnidia from a current season infection are formed in late summer. While this is primarily a disease of mature plants, young plants may become infected if they are caught in a spore shower from nearby mature trees.

dead stunted needles-branch tips

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short brown needles confined to new growth on a branch

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Photos courtesy of The Nebraska Forest Service –

Nebraska University www.nfs.unl.edu

eric@bodetreecare.com

phone

847-909-2100