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How to Identify Pine Tree Diseases
How to Identify Pine Tree Diseases. There are more than 100 species of pine tree around the world, with 36 species native to the United States. Pine trees thrive in slightly acidic, well-drained soil and a sunny site. You should choose a species of pine tree that is suited to your local conditions to avoid disease problems. Always check...
There are more than 100 species of pine tree around the world, with 36 species native to the United States. Pine trees thrive in slightly acidic, well-drained soil and a sunny site. You should choose a species of pine tree that is suited to your local conditions to avoid disease problems. Always check nursery-bought pine trees for disease at point of sale.
Incurable pine wilt is caused by a nematode worm (Bursaphelenchus xylophilus) and spread by sawyer or long-horn beetles. It causes pine trees to die rapidly, often within weeks of infection. The needles of infected trees initially turn grayish-green before going brown. Cut branches of trees with pine wilt appear dry, with no flow of resin.
Fusiform rust is caused by the fungus Cronartium fusiforme. It causes purplish spots on pine stems, followed four to six weeks later by spindle-shaped galls. These galls gradually grow larger and can cause stems to die back or develop cankers. In spring, the galls produce masses of orange, powdery spores. Fusiform rust is most likely to infect your pine tree if it is grown in humid conditions.
Pine needle rust is caused by a number of Coleosporium funghi. The first symptoms are yellow spots on the needles during the spring, followed by delicate, white blisters full of orange spores. Severe infections can lead to the browning and death of the needles and defoliation.
Diplodia tip blight is caused by the fungus Diplodia pinea. Infected saplings get rot spreading upwards from just below the soil line while large trees suffer from branch die back. Symptoms include reddish bark, black streaks through the wood and tiny, black fruiting bodies on the needles and cones. New growth tends to be stunted and infected buds produce large amounts of resin.
Dothistroma needle blight causes yellow and tan spots and water-soaked bands on pine needles in late summer and autumn. These turn brown as the disease progresses, with infected needles dropping off and leaving a short, green stump. Dothistroma needle blight can weaken and kill pine trees if left untreated.
Tips & Warnings
Investigate any sign of disease on your pine tree right away as many diseases cause death or disfigurement if left untreated.
