PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
ED  - ,
AID  - 10.48044/joa.1976.2.7.132
DP  - 1976 Jul 01
TA  - Arboriculture & Urban Forestry (AUF)
PG  - 132--132
VI  - 2
IP  - 7
4099  - http://auf.isa-arbor.com/content/2/7/132.short
4100  - http://auf.isa-arbor.com/content/2/7/132.full
SO  - JOA1976 Jul 01; 2
AB  - Shurtleff, M.C. 1975. The unsightly sooty molds. Grounds Maintenance 10(11):36.Sooty molds are fungi that form a blackish, often velvety, crustlike coating on the surface of leaves, stems and fruits. Their food is ‘honeydew’ secreted by sucking insects such as aphids, scales, mealybugs and whiteflies. Sooty molds do not obtain food from the plant itself; hence are not parasites. The superficial, often thick mold commonly grows in blotches and is easily removed by rubbing to reveal healthy plant tissue. If the insect secretion is abundant, the entire leaf, shoot or fruit surface may be covered with a dark membranous coating. Although unsightly, the only damage done by sooty mold fungi is indirect — shutting off light, thus interfering somewhat with photosynthesis and food manufacture.