2 (1 = rare 5 = annual)

3 (1 = very little damage 5 = plants killed)

Juniperus spp.

Groundcover

• Juniper, Chinese (Juniperus chinensis )
• Juniper, Common (Juniperus communis )
• Juniper, Creeping (Juniperus horizontalis)
• Juniper, Japanese (Juniperus procumbens)
• Juniper, Savin (Juniperus sabina)

Shrub

• Chinese Juniper (Juniperus chinensis)
• Common Juniper (Juniperus communis)
• Savin Juniper (Juniperus sabina)

Tree

• Eastern Red Cedar (Juniperus virginiana)

Symptoms are similar to Phomopsis Blight in that needles and shoot turn brown and die from canker out to branch tip. It takes microscopic inspection to separate the spores of Kabatina from Phomopsis. However, the two diseases can be easily separated by where on the plant the canker is located. If the canker is on the new season's growth it is Phomopsis. If it is on last year's growth (one year old) then it is Kabatina.

This fungal canker kills juniper tissue that is at least one year old. This fungus seems to be unable to attack through healthy tissue. Instead, it is believed to enter various types of wounds (e.g., due to insects, mechanical or weather related). Winter injury and insect activity are common sources of wounding. Fruiting structures of Kabatina will be evident in the spring on one-year-old twigs infected the previous season.

Control is to keep plants healthy and avoid injury as much as possible. Prune out all dead and dying stems/twigs. Promote air circulation and quicker foliar drying by proper plant spacing, pruning of surrounding plant material, and watering early in the day. Resistant varieties remain the most effective control. Kabatina blight is difficult to control with fungicides.

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Illinois Commercial Landscape and Turfgrass Pest Management Handbook
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U of IL - Distance Diagnosis through Digital Imaging
A free plant, weed, insect and disease identification service available through your local University of Illinois Extension office. Center Educators or State Specialists review & respond to information and digital images submitted by local Extension office personnel. Some samples may require further examination or culture work (nominal fee involved) at the U of IL Plant Clinic.
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Services include plant and insect identification, diagnosis of disease, insect, weed and chemical injury (chemical injury on field crops only), nematode assays, and help with nutrient related problems, as well as recommendations involving these diagnoses. Microscopic examinations, laboratory culturing, virus assays, and nematode assays are some of the techniques used in the clinic.
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