The USDA Forest Service: Northeastern Area (UNDATED) states that, \"Conidiomata of D. destructiva may form on necrotic leaf or bark areas. Masses of white to salmon coloured conidia ooze as cirrhi from the reddish to dark brown conidiomata during wet weather.\" The USDA Forest Service: Southern Region (UNDATED) adds that, \"Initial symptoms of D. destructiva are small tan leaf spots that develop into large tan blotches. Often a purple border occurs between dead and healthy tissues and occasionally the entire leaf is killed.\"

The USDA Forest Service: Northeastern Area (UNDATED) states that, \"The origin of this disease is unknown. The fungus may have been introduced or a change in environment may have altered host/parasite relationships, enabling a previously innocuous fungus to become a significant pathogen.\" The USDA Forest Service: Southern Region (UNDATED) states that, \"The dieback of twigs and branches in the lower crown led to the original name of \"lower-branch dieback\" (Pirone 1980, in USDA Forest Service: Southern Region, UNDATED). Further knowledge of the pathogen allowed the disease to be renamed 'dogwood anthracnose.'\" Zhang and Blackwell (2002) suggested that the fungus was introduced based on genetic data.

Pecknold et al. (2001) states that, \"On the underside of the leaf spots the fruiting structures of the causal fungus Discula destructiva, may be visible as small raised tan or brown specks scattered randomly over the lesion surface. Spores from these structures are washed onto new leaf tissue during periods of wet weather or sprinkler irrigation. If cool wet weather persists leaves may become severely blighted. \"The Plant Disease Diagnostic Clinic (2001) states that, \"Reproductive structures of D. destructiva form underneath leaf spots and on the surface of twig cankers. Huge amounts of asexual spores are formed inside and, in the spring, ooze out in slimy beige clusters. Local dispersal of the spores occurs by splashing rain while long distance dispersal may also occur via insects and birds. Transportation of diseased stock into new areas spreads the disease as well, especially into areas where dogwoods are not native. Spores of the fungus land on shoots or leaves penetrating them directly causing the quick death of the plant tissue due to the production of several toxins by the fungus.\" Redlin (1991) states that D. discula produces acervular and subcuticular conidiomata on leaves and twigs of the host. Conidia are ellipsoidal and nonseptate. A sexual state is unknown.

The USDA Forest Service: Southern Region (UNDATED) states that, \"Infection begins in leaves and spreads to twigs and branches, which dieback. Main-stem infections cause cankers, which kill the trees. In the South, infection is most likely at higher elevations and on moist to wet sites. Shade increases risk of infection and mortality.\"

Asexual reproduction by conidia produced in structures called acervuli; sexual reproduction unknown (Redlin, 1991).

Necrotrophic parasitism

The origin of this disease is unknown. The fungus may have been introduced or a change in environment may have altered host/parasite relationships, enabling a previously innocuous fungus to become a significant pathogen.

The USDA Forest Service: Northeastern Area (UNDATED) states that, \"Discula destructiva Infections often progress down the petioles of blighted leaves into shoots, resulting in cankers. Direct infection of shoots, resulting in tiny cankers, may occur on C. florida during spring and fall. Girdling cankers typically develop at leaf nodes, causing twig dieback. On C. nuttallii , fall blighting of terminal leaves is common, resulting in death of terminal buds. Twig dieback is most common in the lower crown following years of extensive spring or fall leaf blighting. As a result of twig dieback, succulent shoots proliferate on the lower trunk and main branches of affected trees. These branches are very prone to infections, which may progress into the main stem Multiple cankers can girdle individual branches or kill the entire tree.\" The USDA Forest Service: Southern Region (UNDATED) adds that, \"Cankers may not be present on all the dead trees. Larger trees often die 2 to 3 years after the first symptoms are found in the leaves.\" The fungal growth and virulence at 28 C and higher is significantly decreased (Ning and Blackwell, 2002).

Preventative measures: The USDA Forest Service: Northeastern Area (UNDATED) states that, \"Dogwoods receiving good cultural care will be better able to withstand D. destructiva during years in which the disease is favoured by weather conditions. Remove succulent branches as they form to prevent trunk canker formation. Avoid high nitrogen fertilizers, which stimulate succulent branching.\"

The USDA Forest Service: Southern Region (UNDATED) also offers suggestions for managing D. destructiva: \"Inspect trees frequently to detect the presence of the disease in its early stages. Select healthy planting stock. If symptoms are seen on the planting stock, dispose of the infected trees. Avoid sites along streams, lakes, or ponds where moisture will remain on the foliage for many hours after sunrise. Prune and completely remove or destroy dead wood in the tree and leaves on the ground yearly. Avoid mechanical and chemical injuries to the trees. Lawnmower and string-trimmer wounds are particularly troublesome.\"

\r\nChemical: Fungicides should be used only to supplement a cultural control program. Applications of chlorothalonil, mancozeb will protect against leaf infections. Apply fungicides registered for prevention or control of dogwood anthracnose when it is necessary to do so. Fungicides should be applied as buds are breaking in the spring and at least twice thereafter as the leaves are expanding (USDA Forest Service).