Tip Blight

Diaporthe vaccinii or Diplodia tip blight agents

61 host plants · Fungal

Last updated

Data Maturity Baseline

This profile contains verified disease data from extension databases. Regional field notes and expert review are in progress.

Tip blight affects new growth tips on spruce, pine, and arborvitae, causing browning or dieback of shoot terminals. Affected tips may show discoloration starting at the very tip and progressing toward the base, eventually killing the current season's growth. The problem is most visible in spring and early summer once new growth is fully expanded.

The key to managing tip blight is identifying the specific causal agent affecting your trees, since different pathogens require different management approaches. Prune out affected tips to reduce disease spread and improve appearance, but focus on maintaining tree vigor and proper site selection. Avoid planting susceptible species in locations prone to late spring frosts, wind damage, or poor air circulation.

Quick Reference

Agent Type
fungal
Causal Agent
Diaporthe vaccinii or Diplodia tip blight agents
Host Plants
61
Favorable Conditions
Cool spring (50-60°F) with sustained moisture. Rain-splash dispersal; plant s...

Management

Vulnerability Window

Spring (March-May) during terminal growth and bud break. New shoot tips most susceptible. Peak: late April through May.

What Triggers Infection

Cool spring (50-60°F) with sustained moisture. Rain-splash dispersal; plant stress and weak growth increase susceptibility.

Host Plants (61)

Picea abies Norway Spruce Picea abies var. pendula Weeping Norway Spruce, Pendulous Norway Spruce Picea asperata Dragon Spruce Picea breweriana Brewer Spruce, Brewer's Weeping Spruce Picea engelmannii Engelmann Spruce Picea gemmata Szechwan Spruce Picea glauca White Spruce, Canadian Spruce, Skunk Spruce Picea koyamae Koyama's Spruce, Yatsugatake-tohi [Japanese] Picea mariana Black Spruce, Bog Spruce, Swamp Spruce Picea omorika Serbian Spruce Picea orientalis Caucasian Spruce, Oriental Spruce Picea pungens Colorado Spruce Picea pungens var. glauca Colorado Blue Spruce Picea rubens Red Spruce Picea sitchensis Sitka Spruce Picea wilsonii Wilson's Spruce Pinus albicaulis Whitebark Pine, Scrub Pine, White Pine Pinus aristata Bristlecone Pine, Rocky Mountain Bristlecone Interior Bristlecone Pinus attenuata Knobcone Pine Pinus banksiana Jack Pine, Scrub Pine, Banksian Pine, Hudson Bay Pine Pinus bungeana Lacebark Pine, Whitebark Pine, Baipi Song Pinus canariensis Canary Island Pine Pinus cembra Swiss Stone Pine Pinus contorta Lodgepole Pine Pinus contorta var. contorta Shore Pine Pinus contorta var. latifolia Rocky Mountain Lodgepole Pine Pinus coulteri Coulter Pine, Bigcone Pine Pinus densiflora Japanese Red Pine Pinus edulis Pinyon Pine, Piñón Pine, Two-needle Pinyon Colorado Pinyon Pinus elliottii Slash Pine, Swamp Pine Pinus flexilis Limber Pine, Rocky Mountain White Pine Pinus halepensis Aleppo Pine, Jerusalem Pine Pinus heldreichii Bosnian Pine, Snakeskin Pine Pinus jeffreyi Jeffrey Pine, Western Yellow Pine, Bull Pine Pinus kwangtungensis Kwangtung Pine, Guangdong Pine Pinus lambertiana Sugar Pine Pinus leucodermis Bosnian Pine Pinus monophylla Singleleaf Pinon Pine, One-leaved Pine Pinus monticola Western White Pine Pinus mugo Mugo Pine Pinus mugo var. pumilio Mugo pine, Dwarf Mugo pine Pinus nigra Austrian Pine Pinus parviflora Japanese White Pine Pinus parvifola Pinus parvifola Pinus pinaster Maritime Pine, Cluster Pine, Turpentine Pine Pinus pinea Italian Stone Pine, Umbrella Pine Pinus ponderosa Ponderosa Pine, Western Yellow Pine Pinus pumila Japanese Stone Pine, Dwarf Siberian Pine Pinus radiata Monterey Pine Pinus resinosa Red Pine Pinus sabiniana Gray Pine, Foothill Pine Pinus strobiformis Southwestern White Pine, Mexican White Pine, Chihuahua White Pine Pinus strobus Eastern White Pine Pinus sylvestris Scots Pine, Scotch Pine Pinus thunbergii Japanese Black Pine Pinus virginiana Virginia Pine, Scrub Pine, Jersey Pine Pinus wallichiana Himalayan Pine, Bhutan Pine Pinus yunnanensis Yunnan Pine Thuja occidentalis Eastern Arborvitae, American Arborvitae Eastern White-cedar Thuja orientalis Chinese Arborvitae, Oriental Arborvitae Thuja plicata Western Redcedar