Norway Spruce Blight (Tip?)

[Menchhofer]

Does anyone have information on treating Norway Spruce Tip Blight besides spray?

I have been told by other associates a cleint's tree has this blight.

Any help would be appreciated....thanks

 

[John Paul Sanborn]

In most conifer fungal problems spray and cultural practices are the only way to see any results. For amy of them sprays don't have a high rate of sucess either.

Do you know the pathogen? I've not heard the common name before.

 

[Menchhofer]

Have not had opportunity to take a look at the tree just yet. When I heard the "tip blight" I was taken back, for I have not heard of it before....I just assumed the guy knew something that I did not.....With what litttle research I have done so far I have not found anything.

I just do not prefer to spray if there are systemic controls.

 

[Kneejerk Bombas]

We see a lot of tip blight on pines. I haven't heard of tip blight on spruce, I wonder if it's similar. If it's the same thing, it's a pain to control. You need to remove all the dead tips back 6" and spray for years. Heavily infested trees are a lost cause.

 

[tophopper]

I too have not heard of tip blight of spruce, sounds maybe like adelgids.

 

[John Paul Sanborn]

Rhizospheara or cytospora maybe?

 

[Menchhofer]

Found some interesting info

Tip blight is is also called dieback caused by Sphaeropsis sapinea. It overwinters in infected twigs, cones needles. In warmer weather small fruiting bodies release spores to the needles. The fungus grows down through the needles and into the twigs....and detroys tissues as far as the first node.

Seems as if sprays are the only way to treat unless infection is severe....then removal...

I guess I answered my own question.

 

[John Paul Sanborn]

I've worked on Sphaeropsis (once called Diplodia) on a number of pines, have not heard of it in spruce.

Sanitation pruning and cone picking for the reasons you mention. I've used a number of different products as preventative sprays whenthe candles are expanding. I seem to remember Daconil as being one of the better resolutions. not sure though.

The fungus which causes Sphaeropsis or Diplodia tip blight may be both saprophytic and pathogenic. It often colonizes plant tissues weakened or killed by other pests, but it may also invade and kill healthy tissues. Although this fungus may colonize many hosts including: red and eastern white pine, Douglas-fir, and Blue, Norway and white spruce, it is a more serious pathogen of Scots and Austrian pines. It rarely attack the others unless they are located near heavily infected Austrian and Scots pine.

from http://ppathw3.cals.cornell.edu/trees/Diplodia.html

I would send it to a lab for culture though.