CANKER? w/ Pictures

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lazybear
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Joined: Sat Feb 05, 2011 8:47 pm

CANKER? w/ Pictures

Post by lazybear »

Hi all, this is my first post here. I’ve taken over the care of my late Fathers small apple orchard. The trees have been neglected for years, but I’ve been reading on this forum, and doing some selective pruning.
I have posted some photos of the wounds on some diseased tree limbs. My question is if this is Canker or just some variant of a bark disease? I can’t tell even after looking at a bunch of photos on the web. I should mention that these limbs do bear fruit, and are not dead, but they look like they should be from the wounds.
Thanks for your help.
Devon

photos
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a109/ ... apple2.jpg
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a109/ ... aaple1.jpg
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a109/ ... apple3.jpg
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a109/ ... apple4.jpg
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Drew Dubious
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Joined: Mon Jun 21, 2010 5:58 am
Location: Canton MA

Re: CANKER? w/ Pictures

Post by Drew Dubious »

It looks like those could have been wounds from canker. Canker will show as a green, mildewish looking stuff on your bark. It will kill wood above the infection as it cuts off the flow of sap.

This video may help.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5WrgmWTxuI8
tkuntz
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Location: Elizabethtown, PA
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Re: CANKER? w/ Pictures

Post by tkuntz »

It is a canker (what my grandfather called tree cancer).
I'm not sure what damaged caused it (hail or cicada?) or which disease is infesting it (bot, nectria?), but I would recommend you trim it out wherever possible and destroy the removed limbs. This will spread to any other future open wounds on your trees whether it be from insects, hail or pruning.
If it is on the trunk you may want to try to cut out all the destroyed tissue and leave the healthy new tissue that surrounds the wound. Coating with copper a few times a year may help destroy the fungi.
In any case if left untreated it will eventually kill all of the green tissue above the canker.
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Drew Dubious
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Location: Canton MA

Re: CANKER? w/ Pictures

Post by Drew Dubious »

I would steer clear of copper if possible.
jonewer
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Re: CANKER? w/ Pictures

Post by jonewer »

Why steer clear of copper (I assume copper sulphate)?

What is a better alternative?

My neighbour's tree is riddled with canker and although my sapling next to it is supposedly resistant (Crawley Beauty) it still makes me nervous.
theothertkuntz
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Joined: Mon Feb 27, 2012 12:12 pm

Re: CANKER? w/ Pictures

Post by theothertkuntz »

I was hoping he would reply as to why not copper...oh well.
Yes Copper Sulfate is the most readily available product and best natural organic product available to control overwintering cankers such as what you have. Works well on overwintering fire blight as well. Do not use copper once the leaves start to open because of phytotoxicity (it will burn the leaves).
jonewer
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Joined: Sun Feb 19, 2012 9:04 am

Re: CANKER? w/ Pictures

Post by jonewer »

Thanks for the tip, theothertkuntz.

.....though it does make me smile when people say copper sulphate is organic, when its plainly about as inorganic as you can get! :lol:
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PA_Docent
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Location: Orange Park, FL United States

Re: CANKER? w/ Pictures

Post by PA_Docent »

Maybe copper sulphate should be termed a naturally occurring fungicide. It is better than anything I have purchased from the store and not toxic to bees if sprayed at the right time of the day. I will do anything to help stop bee decline. Avoid nicotinyl products/insecticides including insecticides based on the active ingredients acetamiprid, imidacloprid, thiacloprid or thiamethoxam are all neonicotinoid class products. :x
Calville Blc,Hewes,Nehou,Fearns P,Siberian,Cox OP,Spitz,Ananas Reinette,BdB,Kingston Blk,Tremlett's,Muscat de Bernay,Ashmead's,Rambo,Stayman,Macoun,Jefferis,Winesap,Red Berlepsch
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