Sycamore Anthracnose
What Is Sycamore Anthracnose?
Sycamores in your yard looking a little sick? Sycamore trees in locations around the state are being affected by sycamore anthracnose. A disease caused by the fungus Apiognomonia veneta, which often flourishes during cool, wet spring weather. The following information is provided to inform you of the symptoms of sycamore anthracnose and the action you should take if your trees are affected by the disease.
Symptoms
Symptoms include large brown lesions that develop along leaf veins that can deform the leaf, as well as twig dieback, wilting and further browning of newly emerging leaves. Wilted and brown looking leaves will drop as the disease progresses. This can happen suddenly, which is usually the cause for concern.
View photos of trees affected by sycamore anthracnose:
- http://na.fs.fed.us/spfo/pubs/fidls/anthracnose_east/fidl-ae.htm
- http://www.invasive.org/browse/detail.cfm?imgnum=1198007
Damage
Damage is rarely fatal, and sycamores generally re-flush new leaves in response to this defoliation, returning to a normal appearance somewhere by the end of June or early July. Even in particularly severe anthracnose years, sycamores are not killed by this disease. However, if the tree suffers repeated defoliation during the same growing season nutrient root reserves can be compromised, stressing the tree to other damaging agents.
Management
Management of sycamore anthracnose includes raking and discarding fallen leaves and good tree care such as watering during periods of drought and fertilizing stricken trees to aid in their recovery from severe defoliation. There are systemic fungicides that can be administered to protect the tree, but the timing of such treatments should be early in the spring prior to budbreak. Spraying foliage with an external protective fungicide is impractical on large trees and again the window for such treatment has past. The time for preventative measures also should have coincided with bud break and leaf expansion. Always consult a certified arborist for best results.
