Tree and Shrub Canker—A Fungal Disease

The word "canker" is used to describe a wounded region in the bark of a limb or trunk of a contaminated tree or shrub. Fungus spores land in injured or wounded bark areas and grow until they develop reproductive components known as fruiting bodies.

The spores from these fruiting bodies function as an inoculant, creating completely new contamination.

They might be "shallow," developing on the external part of the bark and causing minor injury, or they may grow into the vascular tissue, which causes the bark to shed off.

Newly formed outer wood is uncovered, which allows for future damage to the tree or shrub.

Annual cankers are usually active for a single season. Contaminated cells molt off or are covered over by calluses.

Fresh cankers might develop, however current ones cease to produce.

Returning cankers are usually noticeable and damaging. Generally there are two kinds.

• In targeted ones, callus tissues consistently develop over time.
• Diffuse cankers are usually oblong in shape and often sunken or inflamed, very little or no callus is created, and stalks, branches and limbs are deadened.

Conditions for Canker Spread

Generally, cankers tend to be more common on younger trees, on low energy trees, and on trees with poor living conditions.

Tree and shrub contamination by canker fungi is affected by location, time, tree vitality, ecological circumstances and cultural techniques.

Overly dry conditions, absence of fertility, bug defoliation, and herbicide damage all make trees more susceptible to canker spores.

Some Canker Types

While canker is typically a fungal disease, there are two bacterial infections that are given the same name. They're at the end of this list.

• Apple, caused by the fungus Nectria galligena
• Butternut, caused by the fungus Sirococcus clavigigenti-juglandacearum
• Citrus and Cypress canker, caused by the fungus Seridium cardinale
• Grape, caused by the fungus Eutypa lata
• Honey locust, caused by the fungus Thyronectria austro-americana
• Mulberry, caused by the fungus Gibberella baccata
• Pine pitch, caused by the fungus Fusarium pini
• Rose, caused by the fungi Leptosphaeria coniothyrium and Cryptosporella umbrina
• Ash bacterial, caused by the bacterium Pseudomonas syringae
• Poplar, caused by the bacterium Xanthomonas populi

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