Brown Canker
Cryptosporella umbrina (anamorph: Diaporthe umbrina)
8 host plants
Last updated
This profile synthesizes data from multiple published sources. Expert field review is in progress.
Brown canker produces dark, sunken lesions on tree bark and branches. You see reddish-brown staining and oozing or gummosis in affected areas. The disease favors wet conditions and damaged trees, entering through wounds. Prune out infected wood and maintain tree health through proper care and irrigation.
Prune canes with a sharp knife or pruner immediately above a node when first symptoms are noticed. Remove and destroy canes before sporulation occurs.
Quick Reference
Management
Wound infection Oct–May during cool, wet periods. Canker development and expansion during dormancy and spring (Oct–May). Symptoms visible spring/summer. BBCH 97–09.
High humidity; overhead irrigation; cool temperatures above 60°F; dense canopies reducing air circulation; winter conditions with leaf wetness
Cultural Controls
- Prune canes with a sharp knife or pruner immediately above a node when first symptoms are noticed.
- Remove and destroy canes before sporulation occurs.
- Use a winter protecting mulch that does not hold much water such as sand, rock pumice, or coarse bark.