Disease Note

First Report of Taphrina Leaf Blister of Willow Oak in Georgia. R. T. Hanlin, Department of Plant Pathology, University of Georgia, Athens 30602. F. A. Pokorny, Department of Horticulture, University of Georgia, Athens 30602. Plant Dis. 69:83. Accepted for publication 26 September 1984. Copyright 1985 The American Phytopathological Society. DOI: 10.1094/PD-69-83C.

Taphrina caerulescens (Desm.) Tul., causal agent of leaf blister of oak, has been reported on several species of Quercus in Georgia. In the spring of 1984, oak leaf blister was widespread in north Georgia, perhaps because of the unusually cool, wet weather. While collecting specimens for examination, we discovered leaves on several branches of a young willow oak (Q. phellos L.) that were infected with T. caerulescens. The infected branches were interspersed with heavily infected branches of an adjacent water oak (Q. nigra L.). Infected willow oak leaves bore circular to irregular, raised, whitish lesions. Infection was generally not heavy enough to cause distortion of the leaf, as commonly occurs with water oak. Leaf blister has seldom been reported on willow oak in the United States; apparently, the species is not highly susceptible but can become infected when inoculum and environmental conditions are favorable.