Which is a characteristic of rhabdocline needle cast?

• A. Trees are yellow in spring and only have a year or two of needles.
• B. Trees remain evergreen with many years of needles.
• C. It causes rapid tree death within weeks.
• D. It only affects hardwood species.

Answer: (A)

Rhabdocline needle cast is a conifer disease that affects the needles, causing premature needle drop and a yellowing appearance in new growth. The key sign is that infected trees turn yellow in spring and end up with only one to two years of needles remaining on the tree. This creates a sparse, yellowed look rather than a full, evergreen canopy. It’s not a rapid, weeks-long death or a hardwood-specific issue, and healthy conifers typically retain needles for more years. So the best description is yellow needles in spring with only one or two years of needles left.