Life cycle of the pathogenic fungus Sphaeropsis sapinea Dyko & Sutton

Abstract

The study of the parasitic fungus Sphaeropsis sapinea life cycle shows that the conidia disseminate most massively during the period April-May, i. e. during the critical time of infection, but also during the period June-August. Infection can occur through the buds in the spring, before their flushing, but also in the summer of the year of their development. Infection occurs most frequently through the bark of the young shoots, because of which they die while needle infections mostly lead to the so-called localized infections. Both male and female flowers can be infected, as well as the current-year and second-year cones. In some cases this fungus can behave as a latent parasite, i. e. endophyte.

Keywords

• Sphaeropsis sapinea
• life cycle