maple tree disease
Maple Tree

Maple Tree Disease

Maple trees can become infected by several different diseases, such as Sapstreak disease, Verticillium wilt, Anthracnose and Tar Spot. Anthracnose is not a single disease; the name instead refers to a group of maple tree diseases caused by a collection of closely related fungi species. In a similar way, Tar Spot can be caused by several different fungi species from the genus Rhytisma.

Maple tree disease – Sapstreak

Sapstreak maple tree disease is caused by a species of fungus named Ceratocystis coerulescens. As far as we know, only Sugar Maple seems to be affected by this fungus.

During the initial stage of Sapstreak maple tree disease, you can notice how parts of the foliage, or the entire foliage, becomes dwarfed. The disease will then worsen over the course of several years, and a maple tree where only parts of the foliage was dwarfed at first will eventually have the foliage of its entire crown dwarfed by this serious maple tree disease. Parts of the crown will begin to die, and after 3-4 years the entire maple tree will be dead. The disease will not only affect the foliage, the lower stem and the root system will become stained. If you open up an infected maple tree you can see the characteristic radiating Sapstreak maple tree disease pattern in the wood.    

Maple tree disease – Verticillium wilt

This maple tree disease is also known simply as Maple wilt, and is caused by the soil-borne Verticillium fungus. The resistance against Verticillium varies a lot between different Maple tree species and the Norway maple tree seems to be especially prone to contract this disease. Silver maple, Red maple, Japanese maple and Sycamore maple are also known to be quite susceptible to this maple tree disease.

Verticillium fungus will typically gain access to the maple tree via the roots and then spread through the sapwood until it reaches the upper branches of the tree. When upper branches become infected, they begin to die. You can sometimes see sparsely located and weird looking leaves on these infected branches. Such leaves will usually wilt and die during the middle of the summer. 
This maple tree disease can kill an entire maple tree within one single season, but this is uncommon. The normal case is instead one where the maple tree slowly succumbs over the course of several years. Several different factors will affect how long the tree manages to stay alive, including tree size and climate. Really healthy maples can even manage to counteract and limit the damage caused by Verticillium by growing new water conducting vessels that are not infected.

Maple tree disease – Anthracnose

Antracnose is a maple tree disease caused by a group of closely related fungi species. These fungi species are not only dangerous to maples; they will cause serious problems for white oaks, sycamores, elms and dogwood as well. When birch, hickory, walnut, linden or tulip tree becomes infected, the result will usually be much less severe.

When a maple tree becomes infected with Antracnose fungi, the areas along the veins develop a mauve-brown colour. You can also frequently see irregular spots of a brown shade along the veins, or between the veins. Antracnose can also cause buds to die, premature leaf drop and the development of characteristic "witches' brooms".

 

japanese maple tree
japanese maple tree

Copyright 2006 maple-tree.info . Header picture of red maple trees in fall From http://www.landscaping.about.com , taken by David Beaulieu.
Other network sites: Mammals, Birds & Reptiles - Insects & Fish - Plants - Sponsors
mable tree disease