The symptoms and disease cycle of this fungal disease, which commonly infects older pine plantings, are discussed and control measures are recommended. Info Symptoms and Damage Disease Cycle Control Browning and death of branch tips is quite common in older, well-established pine plantings.
Infection kills major branches, and sometimes, entire trees.
Sphaeropsis sapinea can infect young trees, but the fungus becomes increasingly more common and destructive as trees approach 30 years of age. Several pine species can be infected. Symptoms and Damage Figure 1. Dead needles at branch tips. Needles on infected new shoots turn tan or brown while still encased in fascicle sheaths.