Rhizosphaera Needle Cast

Rhizosphaera is a fungus disease and typically affects blue spruce trees.  Symptoms of the disease are discoloration of the needles, needle drop, and eventually turn brown.  Infection takes place in the spring, but symptoms are not visible until the following spring and summer.  Infected needles turn a reddish-purple color.  The disease is spread primarily by rain water splashing the spores from infected needles to newly emerging needles.  A fungicide is used to help control and prevent the spread of this disease.