Tree Diseases

Cytospora Canker

Cytospora Canker is an opportunistic fungus that invades the bark of twigs, branches and main stems of stressed spruce trees. The canker that forms appears as a dead, discolored, and sunken area that ranges in size from 1 inch to possibly several feet. Eventually the canker girdles the twig, branch or stem killing anything that was growing beyond it.

Symptoms of the disease include pitch oozing from infected branches or stems and browning of the needles on the infected branches. After a time the dead needles will fall from the tree. The fungus usually attacks the lowest branches of a tree killing it from the bottom up.

Cytospora affecting the whole tree	A dead branch infected by Cytospora	A Cytospora Canker on a spruce branch
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To learn more see the attached information sheet by clicking the PDF icon below.