Pathology 2 of 2
Cedar apple rust (pathogen: Gymnosporangium juniperi-virginianae). The fungus alternates between Eastern red cedar (Juniperus virginiana) and mostly apple and crabapple. One of several fungi that complete the life cycle on two plant hosts; one in the cypress family and one in the rose family. With moist weather, these gaudy bright orange masses of gelatinous spores develop from galls, and galls swell to several times their original size. Spore masses are several inches in diameter, with a central core and radiating hornlike tendrils, and are highly visible during moist weather in mid-spring. Spores produced on the juniper host are blown during moist weather to the rosaceous hosts in mid-spring at a time when new growth has emerged. The fungus then causes leaf spots on upper leaf surfaces and while growing in the leaf two strains of the fungus mate and emerge as a new spore form on the lower leaf surface. These spores are then blown back to junipers in mid summer to fall, develop galled areas on the junipers over a one and a half year period and the cycle begins again. Windborne spread of spores between the hosts of several hundred yards is not unusual and spread can be a matter of miles.
These gelatinous globs were about 3-4 inches diameter and were all over trees near the Rhode Island coast.
Information from:
ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/3000/3055.html
Pathology 2 of 2
Cedar apple rust (pathogen: Gymnosporangium juniperi-virginianae). The fungus alternates between Eastern red cedar (Juniperus virginiana) and mostly apple and crabapple. One of several fungi that complete the life cycle on two plant hosts; one in the cypress family and one in the rose family. With moist weather, these gaudy bright orange masses of gelatinous spores develop from galls, and galls swell to several times their original size. Spore masses are several inches in diameter, with a central core and radiating hornlike tendrils, and are highly visible during moist weather in mid-spring. Spores produced on the juniper host are blown during moist weather to the rosaceous hosts in mid-spring at a time when new growth has emerged. The fungus then causes leaf spots on upper leaf surfaces and while growing in the leaf two strains of the fungus mate and emerge as a new spore form on the lower leaf surface. These spores are then blown back to junipers in mid summer to fall, develop galled areas on the junipers over a one and a half year period and the cycle begins again. Windborne spread of spores between the hosts of several hundred yards is not unusual and spread can be a matter of miles.
These gelatinous globs were about 3-4 inches diameter and were all over trees near the Rhode Island coast.
Information from:
ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/3000/3055.html