Diplodia Tip Blight and Diplodia Canker

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This article was published originally on 3/9/2005
Byline:
by Christine Engelbrecht, Department of Plant Pathology
Diplodia tip blight is a common fungal disease of Austrian pine, although Scots, mugo, and red pine may also be affected. The Diplodia fungus infects the growing buds and shoots, causing the newest needles of a tree to be stunted and brown. These needles appear as short brown tufts at the ends of the branches. Small black reproductive structures of the fungus can be seen at the base of these stunted needles.
The Diplodia fungus (more properly called Sphaeropsis) also produces spores in fruiting structures that develop on the second-year female cones. These spores are carried by rain throughout the tree.

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