Spruce needle drop.(PEST OF THE MONTH)

Arbor Age, May, 2006 by Childs, Gina

Spruce needle drop is a recently recognized disease of spruce. Although many questions remain, it is thought to be caused by the fungus Setomelanomma holmii. The fungus has been known in Europe since 1980, but was first identified in the United States in 1998.

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What does it look like?

Symptoms of the disease include the yellowing and progressive loss of previous years' needles from the branches of spruce. As the needles drop, the crown thins and eventually entire branches become bare. The loss of needles results in slow growth and a weakened tree. Another characteristic of the fungus is the presence of the black fruiting bodies on the twigs in early spring.

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Host material and...

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