Needle blight of pine - Pseudocercospora pini-densiflorae
Effective: August 18, 2010 - December 31, 2017
Taxonomic Position: Capnodiales : Mycosphaerellaceae
Pest Type: Fungi
Pest Code (NAPIS): FBAVCIG
This pest is a member of the following surveys: Pine
These Approved Methods are appropriate for: 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011
Pest Information
CAPS Pest Datasheet: https://download.ceris.purdue.edu/file/3052
Pest Tracker: https://pesttracker.org/pest/FBAVCIG
Pest is vectored by:
No known vector.
Survey
Approved Method(s)
| Method | Detail | NAPIS Survey Method |
|---|---|---|
| Visual | Collect symptomatic needles. | 3031 - General Visual Observation |
Survey Recommendations
The following are recommendations for executing the survey using the approved methods for pest surveillance. The recommendations are developed through literature review and consultation with subject matter experts.
Signs:
Fruiting bodies of P. pini-densiflorae form and look like dirty areas on the lesions.
Symptoms:
Brown-needle disease develops. The pathogen targets older leaves in young saplings (1-2 yrs. old), forming lesions on the needles.
The infection starts as light yellow-green bands (5-10 mm) around the needles and spreads from the lower crown to the tips of branches. The lesions fade to yellow then to a gray-brown color.
Needles DO NOT exhibit the reddish tint that is characteristic of other diseases.
This pathogen causes severe defoliation, leading to stunted growth, and sometimes plant death.
The infection starts as light yellow-green bands (5-10 mm) around the needles and spreads from the lower crown to the tips of branches. The lesions fade to yellow then to a gray-brown color.
Needles DO NOT exhibit the reddish tint that is characteristic of other diseases.
This pathogen causes severe defoliation, leading to stunted growth, and sometimes plant death.
Key Diagnostic or Identification
Approved Method(s)
ID/Diagnostic:
Morphological: The fungus may be cultured on V8 juice + pine needle decoction agar, in natural light at 25°C (77°F) (day), 0-10°C (32-50 °F) (night) from symptomatic material (Suto, 1971).
Nambu"s original description was translated by Ito (1972).
Pathogen may be identified morphologically by examination of the ascoma, asci, and ascospores (if sexual stage present) or conidia (if asexual stage present) (Evans, 1984; Ivory, 1987).
Nambu"s original description was translated by Ito (1972).
Pathogen may be identified morphologically by examination of the ascoma, asci, and ascospores (if sexual stage present) or conidia (if asexual stage present) (Evans, 1984; Ivory, 1987).
Mistaken Identities:
May be confused with Dothistroma blight (Mycosphaerella pini), but the pathogen may be distinguished by examination of the conidia.
Symptoms may also be masked by or confused with Sphaeropsis sapinea.
Symptoms may also be masked by or confused with Sphaeropsis sapinea.
Notes:
This pest was formerly known as Mycosphaerella gibsonii on the CAPS prioritized pest list.
References
- Evans, H.C. 1984. The Genus Mycosphaerella and its Anamorphs Cercoseptoria, Dothistroma, and Lecanosticta of Pines. Mycological Paper No. 153. Commonwealth Mycological Institute. CAB International Wallingford, UK.
- Ito, K. 1972. Cercospora needle blight of pines in Japan. Bulletin of the Government Forestry Experimental Station Tokyo 246: 21-33.
- Ivory, M.H. 1987. Diseases and Disorders of Pines in the Tropics: A Field and Laboratory Manual. Overseas Research Publication Series No. 31. Overseas Development Administration, Oxford Forestry Institute, UK.
- Suto, Y. 1971. Sporulation of Cercospora gibsonii on culture media. Journal of the Japanese Forestry Society 33: 319-326. English Abstr.
If you are unable to find a reference, contact STCAPS@usda.gov. See the CAPS Pest Datasheet for all references.