Exobasidium vaccinii

photos courtesy of Malcolm Storey

Description: Visually recognized by the reddening of leaves of species within the genus “Vaccinium” as well as others including the native Rhododendron. The leaves of the infected plant exhibit a die back within the mid summer months and a significantly reduced berry crop.  Plants are infected by surface penetration of the plant’s cuticle. The fungi’s mycelium spreads throughout the cortex and into the pith of infected stems. The reproductive stage of the fungus can cover fruit and other tissues of the host plant in a white mildew, which contains the forcefully ejected, sexual ascospores.  

Identification: 

Hosts:

Distribution: By spreading of ascospores and conidia 

General Information:

Referenced from:

“Exobasidium Vaccinii.” Descriptions of Fungi and Bacteria. IMI Descriptions of Fungi and Bacteria, n.d. Web. 19 Feb. 2013.