University of Illinois Extension

University of Illinois Extension

Hort Answers

Fungal Disease

Dieback/Canker
Nectria spp., Phomopsis spp., Botryosphaeria spp., Tubercularia spp., Phytophthora spp.

Cankered dogwood stem
Cankered dogwood stem
 
Frequency
4 (1 = rare 5 = annual)
 
Severity
3-5 (1 = very little damage 5 = plants killed)
 
Hosts
Canker fungi are opportunistic organisms that will invade and kill stressed plant tissue on many plants.

 
Plants Affected
 
Symptoms
Under the right conditions, the canker fungi will kill the entire plant. Canker fungi often girdle the twigs and stems of plants. The foliage turns brown as it dries out. As the canker spreads, more and more of the plant is killed. Under the right growing conditions, the entire plant can be killed by the fungi. Environmental stresses, other diseases and insect injuries make plants more prone to canker diseases.

 
Life Cycle
In many cases, the fungi grow and cause dead areas on the woody tissue during the growing season, spore structures develop in the killed tissue. The spore structures vary in color and can often persist into the winter. Wet weather helps disperse the spores in these structures. The spores infect dead buds and other stressed or injured plant parts. The spores also infect through pruning wounds.

 
Management
Keep plants healthy by growing the plants in the right location and use good cultural practices in maintaining them.

 
Related Resources
Home, Yard & Garden Pest Guide
Illinois Commercial Landscape and Turfgrass Pest Management Handbook
U of IL - Distance Diagnosis through Digital Imaging
U of IL - Plant Clinic