Bud blight (Gemmamyces piceae) in the eastern part of the Krušné hory Mountains

A survey was carried out in 2013-2019 on the life cycle of the bud blight Gemmamyces piceae (Borthw.) Casagrande and the trend assessment in the infestation of the Colorado blue spruce Picea pungens Engelm. stands. Four ecologically different plots were chosen in the Fláje region in the Eastern part of the Krušné hory Mountains. The pycnidia were formed at the beginning of June on buds infested the previous year. Later, in the second half of June, they formed on the spring attack buds. Conidia occurred in the first week of July on the buds of the old infestation, or later in the case of the spring attack buds, in the middle of July. The production of conidia lasted till the end of September. Ascospores occurred in the middle of July and were produced until the end of September. The ability of host trees to sprout became continually weaker, along with the defoliation progress. A distinct decline in the sprouting ability was noticed on stands with a dense crown canopy and on stands with competition of broad-leaved trees - with an admixture of birch.