AusBonsai

Thanks Edward,thanks for your comments, as i spray all my trees each month i didn't even think this may be the problem, i will try and get some higher res pics today and post, its to late to save two of the trees the best tree may still have a small chance.
Thanks John

John Henry wrote:Thanks Mojo,as in all my trees i add a small amount of native osmocoate when re potting then water in with a weak mix of seasol and have never had problems . At the same time of repotting i also repotted two radiatas in the only remaining mix containing Maidenwell diatomite they are both going gang busters.

John, that looks like one of my old radiata pines I sold about 15 years ago. Do you remember where you purchased it ?

Hi Brian, Which tree i will post another pic.
john

HI Edward & All others for your help here are a few more pics

John,

I havent got any experience with Needle cast but found the below image which shows the tell tale signs of the deasease. I can see a few of the red bands on some of the needles on your trees. Not sure if that is proof, but it might be worth taking what ever actions you can just in case.
Image from HERE has some more info.

Thaks Jow, i havn"t seen any strips on the needles have sprayed with Lime Sulfer.
john

HI again John,

Like i said i have no experience with the problem but i spotted these areas which look like dark bands. Not sure if that means you have needle cast or not, just my un-educated observation.
The article i linked to reccomended a copper spray.

Best of luck.

Joe.

Hi all,

I saw Johns trees just a few weeks ago and they all looked fine with no indication of Dothistroma anywhere in the yard.

I think the damage to the new growth is too quick for it to be Dothistroma but another fungal or root problem after a cool wet period might be the cumulative culprit.

Grant

@John Henry: Thanks for the close ups John. Yes that looks very much like classic symptoms of Dothistroma I'm afraid. The classic red band which Jow has kindly circled for us. Notice that in many of the infected needles, death starts from the band then goes up towards the tip whilst the lower portion are still green/yellow. Of course not all the needles are like this in Dothistroma, some needles will be completely brown. You will eventually see very tiny black dots on some of the most oldest dead needles, spores will develop from this. I can actually see some black dots in the photo so you may need to look closely with a magnifying glass on the oldest dead needles. I also notice the foliage (newest) at the end of branches look as if they are the last to be infected whilst the older inner foliage were probably the first to be infected. Anyway, I wish you the very best John as I can feel the heartbreak if you end up losing a tree like this. Good luck

NBPCA wrote:Hi all,

I saw Johns trees just a few weeks ago and they all looked fine with no indication of Dothistroma anywhere in the yard.

I think the damage to the new growth is too quick for it to be Dothistroma but another fungal or root problem after a cool wet period might be the cumulative culprit.

Grant

Grant, I wouldnt consider a few weeks ago as being too quick. Symptoms of Dothistroma can develop very rapidly, within days especially with the right conditions. Besides, judging from the photos, the newest growth at the end of the branches seem to be the last to be infected. No-one needs to agree with me, however I can only judge from the photos which people can draw from their own conclusions. But from my experience looks convincingly like dothistroma.

Its something for John and everyone to consider in the future. Possibly need to spray more in some conditions.

We spray here to prevent Dothistroma with Cocide blue and have not had a problem so I have never seen anything like it. Also there would be more humidity than here so I suppose its possible.

grant