Needle Blights & Needle Casts of Pines - Pine Needle Cast Disease

Pines in the Midwest are susceptible to several needle blights and casts that are caused by fungi that infect and kill (blight) the needles, causing them to be shed or cast prematurely. The three most serious blights and casts are Dothistroma needle blight (caused by Dothistroma pini [also known as Scirrhia pini in its sexual stage]), brown spot needle blight (caused by Scirrhia acicola and Lophodermium needle cast (caused by Lophodermium seditiosum). Two blights that are usually less widespread and serious are Jack pine needle blight (caused by Davisomycella ampla and affecting mainly Pinus banksiana) and needle blight of pine (caused by Meloderma desmazierii, a weak parasite that rarely causes notable loss of needles). Table 1 lists the species of pine more commonly grown in the Midwest that are susceptible to these diseases.

Integrated Pest Management
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