<i>Cryptococcus</i> can infect conifers and shows progressive disease associated symptoms.

Abstract

Conifer infection model at four weeks post-infection displays exacerbated needle browning, bud drooping, and needle dropping consistent with infection. Douglas fir (top row) and Eastern hemlock (bottom row) four weeks post inoculation with, (left column) C. deneoformans JEC21α, JEC20a, and JEC21α + JEC20a mixed; (middle column) C. neoformans H99α, KN99a, and H99α + KN99a mixture; (right column) C. bacillisporus (NIH312α), C. gattii (NIH194a), and NIH312α + NIH194a mixture. Douglas fir displays more plant infection symptoms in contrast to Eastern hemlock.</p