THE TOXICOLOGY OF TAR SPOT Common Name Tar

Common Name: Tar Spot Scientific Name: Rhytisma acerinum Type: Fungus Tar spot is a

Tar spot is caused by the fungus Rhytisma acerinum

Rhytisma acerinum is a plant pathogen that commonly affects sycamores and maples in late

It is an Ascomycete fungus that locally infects the leaves of trees and is

• In late spring, yellow chlorotic spots appear on tree leaves. • These

• A microscopic sign of the pathogen are the stroma, mats of hyphae

Rhytisma acerinum can occur in many tree species the most common being in the

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THE TOXICOLOGY OF TAR SPOT

Common Name: Tar Spot Scientific Name: Rhytisma acerinum Type: Fungus Tar spot is a fungal disease that doesn't require a fancy microscope for diagnosis. As you might guess, the disease is characterized by raised, black spots on leaves

Tar spot is caused by the fungus Rhytisma acerinum

Rhytisma acerinum is a plant pathogen that commonly affects sycamores and maples in late summer and autumn, causing Tar Spot.

It is an Ascomycete fungus that locally infects the leaves of trees and is a biotrophic parasite. R. acerinum is the teleomorph of Tar Spot.

SYMPTOMS

• In late spring, yellow chlorotic spots appear on tree leaves. • These develop into brown-black lesions, retaining the yellow border • The lesions continue to grow, and by the end of summer form a leaf spots that look like tar

• A microscopic sign of the pathogen are the stroma, mats of hyphae found in the lesions • These lesions can cause senescence of leaves but are mostly of cosmetic importance.

AFFECTED SPECIES

Rhytisma acerinum can occur in many tree species the most common being in the genus. Acer. Specific varieties affected most commonly by the disease are Norway maple (Acer platanoides), silver maple (Acer saccharinum) and sycamore maple (Acer pseudoplatanus

DISEASE CYCLE