Gummosis on fruit trees is identified by the oozing of sap from wounds or cankers. Environmental stress, mechanical injury, or disease and insect infestation can cause gummosis. The fungal cause of gummosis, cytospora canker or valsa canker affects stone fruit trees like apricots, cherries, peaches, and plums.
Cytospora canker, also known as perennial canker, is distinguishable from insect damage and mechanical injuries because sawdust or pieces of bark are not mixed in the sap.
Gummosis Symptoms
New shoots and leaves that wilt or turn yellow on trees are infected with cytospora canker. Sunken lesions on the bark enlarge, and gummy, amber-colored sap oozes from the bark. When the entire tree is weakened, defoliation may occur and branches underneath the cankers are killed. When the disease infects the trunk, the whole tree may die.
Cytospora Canker
Cytospora canker is caused by one of two different fungi: Fungus that overwinters on dead wood, in sunken lesions and by spring occurring fungal chains that release spores which are carried by winds and rain splashes. Wounds made from insect boring or mechanical injuries allow spores to enter. Warm and moist spring weather encourage more prevalent symptoms and susceptibility in trees coming out of dormancy.
Gummosis Pest Management
The primary mode of infection is fungi that enters wounds on tree trunks that are injured by lawnmowers or other yard and garden equipment. Non-hardy plants exposed and unprotected in windy areas or planted in soil with poor drainage are also at risk to disease. Cold damage on trunks and branches of young trees can be prevented with the application of white latex paint. Infected branches that have been pruned in late winter should be disposed of or burned if possible.
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