have been reported from Connecticut, in 1996, a new needle rust was documented in the state. I. AUTOECIOUS SPRUCE NEEDLE RUST 1. As many news outlets continue to run articles on damage to conifers related to application of the new herbicide Imprelis, many homeowners may automatically assume that injury to their spruces is herbicide related. This fungus is different from the other rust species since it only requires one type of host (spruce… needle rust of spruce Taxonomic Tree; Domain: Eukaryota Kingdom: Fungi Phylum: Basidiomycota Subphylum: Pucciniomycotina Class: Pucciniomycetes; Summary of Invasiveness; C. himalensis is a heteroecious rust completing different stages of its life cycle on different plants. Once spruce needle rust becomes obvious on the trees, it is too late to use a pesticide. A note on the outbreak of Chrysomyxa abietis Unger (Spruce needle rust) in Scotland, 1951. areas, spruce needle rust can be severe. Because the fungus attacks new needles exclu-sively (Figure 4), it can be distinguished from other common spruce diseases, such as spruce needle cast or broom rust. For example, the alternate hosts for C. ledi are Labrador tea and leatherleaf. In some areas of the northwoods, the blue spruce are turning pink or orange, and the black spruce and white spruce are turning pale yellow. Needles that become infected in the spring begin to develop yellow spots or bands in late winter or early spring of the following year, with bright yellow waxy blisters developing on the discolored areas of the needles. London, UK: Her Majesty's Stationery Office, 15 pp. This spruce needle rust is somewhat unique, because it does not require an alternate host. Spruce needle cast fungi invade new needles but the needles remain green until they are one year old and then turn reddish-brown. Murray JS, 1953. The spores produced on spruce trees do not infect other spruce trees. Murray JS, 1955. Forestry Commission Booklet No. Chrysomyxa needle rusts are heteroecious and require more than one host to complete their life cycles. Spruce needle cushion rust is a disease caused by a fungus belonging to the Basidiomycetes, a large group of fungi. On Finnish micromycetes. Scottish Forestry, 7(2):52-6. As 4. Rusts of British Forest Trees. This rust was identified as C. weirii. Mäkinen Y, 1964. Although several needle rusts caused by Chrysomyxa spp. This feature is important since it determines the types of strategies that are effective for disease management. Spruce trees turn orangish or pinkish when spruce needle rust is sporulating. Cooley spruce adelgid and spruce needle rust result in browning of current year’s growth on spruce and may be mistaken for Imprelis damage. It causes discoloration of the current-year needles, specifically, light green or yellowish green horizontal bands or stripes, and later, yellow-orange bands. 4. The rust fungus produces spores on infected spruce needles and these are carried by wind and rain splash to spread the infection to other Laborador tea or leather leaves.