University of Illinois Extension
University of Illinois Extension - Selecting Trees for Your Home
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Lophodermium Needle Cast
Lophodermium sp.
Lophodermium needle cast symptoms on Scots pine.
Severity: 1.5 out of 5
Frequency: 1.5 out of 5
Symptoms: Disease starts with yellow spots that become brown with yellow halos late in the fall, in late winter or early spring when tempertures rise. Eventually needles turn all brown in April & May and fall off leaving only new growth in June & July. New seedlings are often stunted and sometimes killed by this disease.
Cycle: The pathogen overwinters on infected needles. Spores need wet needles to germinate and infect. Infection occurs in August into November (August & September being worse). For severe or epidemic conditions, an abundant amount of spores must occur during cool wet weather.
Management: Follow good sanitation practices. Plant in sun and with good air circulation. If necessary use suggested fungicides according to label directions.
Associated trees: