Phomopsis blight of juniper. |Severity:||3 out of 5|
|Frequency:||3.5 out of 5| |Symptoms:||For most people, the
first symptom noticed in the spring (early summer) is the die-
back of the new shoot growth (tip blight). The new growth
changes from light yellow green to red brown to ash gray as it
dies from this fungal disease. Phomopsis juniperovora only kills
the new growth - if more than just the new growth is killed,
other fungal diseases or environmental injury is involved.
Infection starts on immature scale leaves or needles, whereas
mature needles are resistant. This infection progresses into the
underlying shoots, causing a small lesion at the junction of
healthy and diseased tissues. Small stems (less than one third
inch in diameter) are usually girdled by these lesions, causing
tip death. In advance stages of infection, small black fruiting
bodies can be seen with the unaided eye or a magnifying glass.
The fruiting bodies are embedded in the dry, ashen gray lesions
on the stems and needles but often br