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Disease Note. Xylaria Root Rot of Urban Trees Caused by Xylaria polymorpha. T. J. Proffer, Department of Botany and Plant Pathology, Michigan State University, East Lansing 48824. . Plant Dis. 72:79. Accepted for publication 14 September 1987. Copyright 1988 The American Phytopathological Society. DOI: 10.1094/PD-72-0079A. Xylaria root rot affects a variety of landscape trees with basal wounds
on the campus of Michigan State University. In 1986, mature stromata
were collected from crabapple (Malus 'Snowdrift'), thornless
honeylocust (Gleditsia triacanthos L. var. inermis Willd.), eastern
redbud (Cercis canadensis L.), and hedge maple (Acer campestre L.).
Based on ascospore and stromata characteristics, the fungus was
identified as Xylaria polymorpha (Pers.:Fr.) Grev. X. polymorpha has
been reported on other Malus and Acer species (2). This report extends
the host range within those genera and to the genera Cercis and
Gleditsia. Honeylocust was previously noted as a host of X. mali
Fromme (I). Xylaria root rot appears to playa role in the decline of a
variety of urban trees, and management practices minimizing basal
trunk and root injuries are warranted. |