By: Christine Yin

Dogwood Anthracnose

Discula destructiva • Kingdom: Fungi• Phylum: Ascomycota• Class: Sordariomycetes• Subclass: Sordariomycetidae• Order: Diaporthales • Family: Valsaceae• Genus: Discula• Species: Destructiva

What is Discula destructiva?

• Fungal infection that affects only dogwood • Can be fatal

Life Cycle of Discula destructiva

• The reproductive structures of the fungi remain on leaves and twigs through winter

• New growth is infected • Rainy weather will spread the infection

Effects on Dogwood

• Causes blotching of the leaves and flowers • Cankers on the branches• Affected trees do not drop their leaves in

winteroLeaves are gray and crumpled

Effects, cont.

• Serious infection can cause the tree to defoliate

• Terminal twigs killed• Can spread down to branches and effectively

destroy leaf buds• Can eventually kill the tree or weaken it and

make it prone to more infection

Origin

• Origin is unknownoTheories: environmental change could have

change the relationship between the tree and a parasite that was harmless before OR the fungus Discula sp. was introduced

• Has been found on the East Coast and Pacific North West of the US

• Caused by the agent Discula sp.

Distribution• First discovered in Washington in 1776• Found in NY two years later• Spread down Applachian fairly quickly•Has been found on 120 acres of land

Rate of Distribution

• From 1988 to 1991, the number of plots severely affected increased by 638%

• South – damage worst at elevations above 3000 ft

Why should we care?

• Affects the tourism of the Southern Appalachians

• Animals such as deer, squirrels, turkey, and many more rely on the berries for fat and protein, and the leaves for calcium

• The loss of dogwood trees will have an impact on other organisms

Prevention, Control and Maintenance

• Monitor the trees• Prune diseased leaves or branches• Plant the trees in the right locations• Plant discula destructiva resistant trees• Avoid using lots of nitrogen rich fertilizersoEncourages new sprouts which are vulnerable

• Use fungicides when they are needed

Fungi free dogwood tree!

Works Cited• "How to Identify and Control Dogwood Anthracnose." Northeastern Area

State & Private Forestry - USDA Forest Service. Web. 20 Sept. 2011. <http://www.na.fs.fed.us/>.

• "HGIC 2003 Dogwood Diseases & Insect Pests : Extension : Clemson University : South Carolina." <Clemson University.> Web. 20 Sept. 2011. <http://www.clemson.edu/>.

• "Dogwood Anthracnose." hortanswers. University of Illinois., Web. 20 Sept. 2011. <http://urbanext.illinois.edu/>.

• "Dogwood Anthracnose." Plant Pathology. NC State University, Web. 20 Sept. 2011. <www.cals.ncsu.edu/>.

• ther, R.S., R.M. Davidson, and Jr. 1979. Dogwood anthracnose. Ornamentals Northwest Newsletter. "Dogwood Anthracnose - eXtension." eXtension - Objective. Research-based. Credible.. PennState University: College of Agricultural Sciences, n.d. Web. 20 Sept. 2011. <http://www.extension.org/>.

Works Cited cont.• (Media) "Pink Dogwood Tree Bokeh | Trees| Free Nature Picture

Photography." ForestWander Free Nature Picture Photography. West Virginia. Web. 20 Sept. 2011. <http://www.forestwander.com/>.

• "Forest Scenery Nature Pictures and Photography - Flowers - pink-dogwood-tree-flower." Forest Scenery Nature Pictures and Photography - Forest Scene Gallery. ForestWander Nature Photography. Web. 21 Sept. 2011. <http://www.forestscene.com/>.