Douglas Fir: Yellow-green mottle syndrome

Biology

he cause of yellow-green mottle syndrome is unknown, but may be genetic. Needles of all ages are affected by yellow-green mottle syndrome. Yellow-green blotches may be small or may cover the entire needle, but the midrib is never affected. Mildly affected needles have small or large blotches on only one side of the midrib. Severely mottled needles are entirely yellow with a dull green midrib. Affected needles usually fall off the trees, sometimes causing severe defoliation. Trees sometimes grow out of the syndrome in two or three years.

Management Options

Use Integrated Pest Management (IPM) for successful plant problem management.

Non-chemical Management

Select non-chemical management options as your first choice!

• Give affected trees a chance to outgrow the mottling.
• Remove and destroy trees that are affected every year.

Chemical Management

IMPORTANT: Visit Home and Garden Fact Sheets for more information on using pesticides.

• None recommended