The fungus produces on the lower surfaces of the leaves a conspicuous growth of white tufts which contain masses of spores, [Figure 6].
Figure 6. Articularia leaf mold fungus, showing white tufts on lower leaf surfaces of pecan leaflets.
Control.—Articularia leaf mold does not occur in trees or in orchards which have been sprayed for disease control.
A single application of fungicide such as zineb at 2 pounds per 100 gallons of water when the disease is first detected is usually sufficient to control Articularia leaf mold disease.
PINK MOLD
Pink mold, Cephalothecium roseum Corda, usually occurs on nuts infected with the scab fungus. The pink mold fungus apparently enters the nuts through scab lesions on the shucks and continues to produce masses of pink spores on shuck surfaces until late fall. The fungus sometimes invades the kernel of thin-shelled pecan varieties causing “pink rot” which is characterized by an oily appearance of the nut shell and a rancid odor.
Control.—Pink mold rarely occurs on the shucks of nuts in the absence of scab disease. In areas where scab disease control is regularly practiced pink mold is not a problem.
SPANISH AND BALL MOSS
Spanish moss, Tillandsia usneoides, and Ball moss, Tillandsia recurvata L., are not parasitic to the pecan tree and are similar to lichens in that they both derive their food from the air, rain or atmospheric moisture.