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Shothole

Stigmina carpophila or Diaporthe spp.

36 host plants

Last updated

Data Coverage 3 of 6 dimensions
Causal Agent
Host Plants
Symptoms
Management
GDD Threshold
Regional Notes

Shothole appears as small circular lesions on cherry and plum leaves, often surrounded by a reddish or purplish halo. As the disease progresses, the centers of these spots die and drop out, leaving the characteristic holes that give the disease its name. You'll notice this most prominently in late spring through early summer when leaves are fully expanded, particularly after periods of wet weather in cool temperate regions.

While shothole doesn't usually kill ornamental cherries, it can reduce the aesthetic appeal of your trees significantly and occasionally show up on fruit. The disease overwinters on buds and bark, which is why pruning out infected twigs and removing fallen leaves is so important. Avoid overhead watering and ensure good air circulation around trees to keep foliage dry, since moisture is essential for the fungus to spread.

Quick Reference

Causal Agent
Stigmina carpophila or Diaporthe spp.
Host Plants
36

Management

Vulnerability Window

Apply at leaf fall in late autumn.

Cultural Controls

  • Prune and destroy dead buds and cankered twigs if present.
  • Rake and destroy infected leaves.
  • Avoid overhead watering, as leaves must be moist for infection to occur.

Host Plants (36)

Prunus americana Wild Plum American (Red) Plum August Plum, Goose Plum Prunus armeniaca Apricot Prunus avium Sweet Cherry Prunus besseyi Sand Cherry, Western Sand Cherry Prunus blireiana Blireiana Plum Prunus caroliniana Carolina Cherrylaurel American Cherrylaurel Prunus cascade Prunus cascade Prunus cerasifera Cherry, Plum Prunus cistena Purpleleaf Sandcherry Redleaf Sandcherry Cistena Sandcherry Cistena Plum Prunus dream Prunus dream Prunus emarginata Bitter Cherry, Wild Cherry, Quinine Cherry Prunus first Prunus first Prunus fruticosa Steppe Cherry, European Dwarf Ground Cherry, Mongolian Cherry Prunus glandulosa Dwarf Flowering Almond Prunus ilicifolia Hollyleaf Cherry, Holly-leaved Cherry Prunus laurocerasus Cherry, Laurel Prunus lusitanica Portugal Laurel Prunus maackii Amur Chokecherry Amur Cherry, Manchurian Cherry Prunus mume Japanese Apricotc Japanese Flowering Apricot Japanese Flowering Plum Prunus newport Newport Flowering Plum Prunus okame Okame Flowering Cherry Prunus padus European Birdcherry Common Birdcherry Prunus prostrata Rock Cherry, Mountain Cherry Prunus sargentii Sargent Cherry, Sargent's Cherry Prunus serotina Black Cherry, Rum Cherry Prunus serrula Birchbark Cherry, Paperbark Cherry, Tibetan Cherry Prunus serrulata Japanese Flowering Cherry Prunus snow Prunus snow Prunus subcordata Klamath Plum, Sierra Plum, Pacific Plum Prunus subhirtella Higan Cherry Prunus subhirtella var. autumnalis Autumn Flowering Higan Cherry Prunus tai Prunus tai Prunus virginiana Prunus virginiana Prunus virginiana var. demissa Western Chokecherry Prunus virginiana var. virginiana Common Chokecherry, Eastern Chokecherry Prunus yedoensis Yoshino Cherry, Somei-yoshino Cherry, Tokyo Cherry