Diplodia Shoot Blight of Pines

Diplodia shoot blight, also known. as Diplodia tip blight or canker or Sphaeropsis blight, can be a particularly damaging disease of Austrian, ponderosa, and Scotch pines, as well as other pine and evergreen species. The disease is caused by a fungus, Sphaeropsis sapinea (syn. Diplodia pinea). Extensive damage may occur on trees chronically stressed by being grown outside their natural range. Although pine trees of all ages are susceptible to the disease, damage is most severe in older trees. Severe damage seldom occurs in trees not yet bearing cones. Numerous or repeated infection with Diplodia shoot blight can lead to stunting, deformed growth, and, eventually, death of the tree