The symptoms first appear in late May or early June. The new developing shoots or candles fail to elongate properly and turn yellow or tan. Small droplets of resin often form on the stunted needles. The needles on the shoot become stunted and turn tan in color. Generally, all infected needles remain attached to the branch.
Dead shoots are more common in the lower portion of the tree.
However, trees with repeated infections can have dead shoots and branches throughout the crown. The fungus survives from year to year in dead shoots, branches and pine cones. The black fruiting structures are visible on both needles and cones in the fall and winter. The spores are dispersed by water and require a high relative humidity for germination and to penetrate in the host tissue. New shoot growth is very susceptible to infection especially in the spring when candles are elongating.