The black scabs on these Silver Maple leaves are signs of tar spot,
a common fungal disease that also affects Norway, Red and other maples as well as willows, holly and
sycamores.
The spots, called stromata, are the overwintering form of
the fungus. When infected leaves fall, they often land with their upper surfaces,
and so the stromata, facing up. That puts them in a good position to release wind-borne
or rain-splashed spores next spring. The freed spores then infect new
leaves, eventually producing light green to yellow spots on the blades that
enlarge as the season progresses. The spots turn dark and tarry-looking in late
summer and early fall.
Although it looks bad, tar spot is rarely a serious disease.
It can cause early leaf drop, but otherwise it's just unsightly. Raking and destroying
infected leaves can prevent reinfection in spring. In most cases, fungicides are not
recommended.
Inside a Stroma
If you slice through a stroma in spring and examine it with a microscope, you'll find its lower surface covered with tiny, bowl-shaped structures called apothecia. Inside each apothecium are hundreds of sacs called asci ("as-eye" or "ask-eye," singular ascus). Each ascus contains eight needle-shaped spores that are released through cracks in the overlying stroma.
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| Left: An apothecium of Rhytisma acerinum with the dark, overlying stroma ruptured. A clear layer of asci covers the bottom of the apothecium. Right: A closeup of the asci with emerging needle-like spores. Both photos by Bruce Watt, University of Maine, Bugwood.org. |
Because tar spot fungi need living tissue to survive, spores are not released in fall. Instead, they are released in spring, when leaves are emerging from their buds. Blown by wind or launched by splashes of water, many of the spores won't land on a susceptible host. With a good measure of luck, some will, and the life cycle begins again.
The "Womb" Fungi
Tar spot fungi are in the genus Rhytisma. Three species typically infect maples: native R. americanum and R. punctatum and introduced R. acerinum.
All three species belong to a large group of fungi called Ascomycetes, or sac fungi. The apothecia of sac fungi typically are open at the top, but those of Rhytisma are covered by a layer of fungal tissue in the stromata.
Because the protected apothecia resemble wombs, they're also called hysterothecia, from the Greek root words "hystero," meaning uterus or womb, and "theca," meaning case or cup.
References
Leaf
Diseases of Hardwoods: Tar Spots. Dr. Robert Blanchette, College of Food,
Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Minnesota.
Tar
Spot of Trees and Shrubs. Brian Hudelson, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Plant Pathology. Last Revised 12/18/2018.
Rhytisma acerinum and Rhytisma punctatum, two causes of Tar Spot of maple. Heather
Hallen Adams and Tom Volk, University of Wisconsin-LaCrosse. Fungus of the
Month, October 2007.
