Brand and Common Canker
Two fungi
8 host plants
Last updated
This profile contains verified disease data from extension databases. Regional field notes and expert review are in progress.
Brand canker and common canker produce cankers on tree bark that gradually girdle branches and trunks over time. You see sunken lesions with stained wood beneath the bark. The condition develops when fungal spores enter through pruning wounds or branch stubs. Management includes removing infected branches, disinfecting pruning tools, and preventing mechanical tree injury.
Avoid injuring canes. Prune canes with disinfected, sharp knife or pruner immediately above a node. Prune affected branches well below visible symptoms and sterilize tools between cuts. Avoid pruning during wet weather, which spreads the pathogen through fresh wounds. Maintain plant vigor through proper watering and site management.
Quick Reference
Management
Cultural Controls
- Avoid injuring canes.
- Prune canes with disinfected, sharp knife or pruner immediately above a node.
- Avoid leaving long stubs above a node.
- Frequently clean and disinfect cutting tools.
- Cut and destroy infected canes well below the affected area.
- Use a winter protecting mulch that does not hold much water such as sand, rock pumice, or coarse bark.