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Ceratocystis platani

Canker stain of plane

Description

Ceratocystis platani is a fungus, that cause disease in plane trees known as canker stain of plain or cancer of sycamore. This disease is the main threat to plane trees in Europe. It causes striking wood staining, extensive wilting and tree mortality within 1 – 6 years. Decline is very obvious and cannot be overlooked. Infection occurs through fresh wounds and is mostly carried by pruning utensils and sawdust dispersal. Later it may be transmitted by root contact of nearby trees or water runoff. Both bark and sapwood are colonized, and the fungus can spread rapidly, also reaching the heartwood along the medullary rays. The crowns of affected trees initially exhibit sparse chlorotic foliage followed by expanding branch die-back. Symptoms on the trunk and main branches are sunk, longitudinally elongated necrotic patches appearing like cracked bark cankers. The wood underside is often coloured brown to bluish-black.