Kabatina Tip Blight

Kabatina juniperi kills juniper tissue that is at least one year old. This fungus seems to be unable to attack through healthy tissue. Instead, it is believed to enter various types of wounds (e.g., due to insects, mechanical or weather related). Symptoms are similar to Phomopsis Blight. It takes microscopic inspection to separate the spores of Kabatina from Phomopsis. However, the two diseases can be easily separated by where on the plant the canker is located. If the canker is on the new season's growth it is Phomopsis. If it is on last year's growth (one year old) then it is Kabatina.

Control

Control is to keep plants healthy and avoid injury as much as possible. Prune out all dead and dying stems/twigs. There are no effective fungicide controls. Resistant varieties are available.

Written by James Schuster, Extension Educator, Horticulture, and reviewed by Bruce Paulsrud, Extension Specialist, Pesticide Applicator Training and Plant Pathology, Department of Crop Sciences University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.