Connecticut State The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station

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 What’s New

--Updates, Alerts, and News from the PDIO--
October 2022

Browning of Leaves and Diebacks on Boxwood

Browning of boxwood leaves infected with Volutella blight of boxwood      Blackening of stems and pink fungal growth on the boxwood stem

                      Browning of leaves                              Blackening of stems and orange fungal structures

The Plant Disease Information Office has been receiving numerous boxwood samples with browning of leaves and stem diebacks. Volutella blight, a common fungal disease of boxwood, were found on most samples. Please find more information of this disease and its control in the fact sheet Volutella Blight of Boxwood. Heat and drought stress during this summer might also contribute to the damage. 

 
September 2022

Severe Damages on Pachysandra resulted from Volutella Blight in 2022

large brown patches in a pachysandra bed infected with Volutella blight of pachysandra Brown spots on pachysandra leaves infected with Volutella blight

Volutella leaf and stem blight is a common fungal disease of pachysandra. Severe damages resulted from the disease have being reported since late summer this year. If a correct disease diagnosis needed, please send us samples by following the Sample Submission Guidelines. 

 June 2022

Beech Leaf Disease Widespread and Severe in Connecticut and the Northeast 

Beech leaf disease with dark green bands on leaves

PRESS RELEASE: Connecticut’s Beech Trees Severely Impacted by Beech Leaf Disease

 

May 2022

Beech Leaf Disease Showed Up Early in 2022

beech leaf disease with dark green bands on leavesdark green bands on leaves infecte with beech leaf disease

 

What's Wrong with My Rhododendron

 
Browning and drooping of rhododendron leaves browning and drooping of rhododendron leaves