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Bacterial Canker

This disease causes symptoms on many hosts, but is particular to cherries (prunus)

The symptoms are seen as sunken areas of dead bark, often producing a gummy substance.

If the canker girdles stems, wilting and dieback occurs.

Another indication is small holes in the leaves of the plant, this is known as 'shot-holing',

The bacteria live on the surface of the leaves during summer, but can be dispersed with water. 

In autumn, they enter openings in the bark such as leaf scars and wounds, and appear in spring in the form of cankers.

‘Shot holes’ are caused by bacteria entering the stomata and forming lesions.

As leaves mature the lesions stop growing, and infected tissue falls out, leaving a hole.

Prune out infections in summer when bacterial populations are low, and re-infection is less likely

Spray with a half strength Copper fungicide or Bordeaux mixture at 2-3 week intervals during the summer and a full strength application before autumn leaf drop.

 

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