Anthracnose
Anthracnose is a fungus that affects the leaves of certain species of trees. This disease is very common in white and green ash trees in Minnesota. Other genus can get anthracnose and include maple, elm, walnut, birch, and oak. The picture to the right shows the effects of anthracnose on a maple. Notice the irregular sections of the leaves starting to turn a brown color.
Anthracnose in maples can be a very serious disease as the leaves stay on the tree and the fungus starts working its way into the branches of the tree. Staining of the living tissue often resembles that of Dutch elm disease or verticillium wilt. Check out pictures of the staining on the links.
Timing
Anthracnose fungi are very active in the spring. In years where the spring is cold and damp this fungi affects trees more than any other climate. The picture to the right on the bottom shows signs of anthracnose on ash leaves. These leaves fall from the tree pretty fast and make the disease look very dangerous. In most cases of ash trees they show little stress and instantly start budding out new leaves.
Treatment
Treatment plans for anthracnose vary depending on the species of tree affected and the severity of the case. Treating anthracnose in a maple trees would be approached much more carefully then in an ash tree where no treatment plan might be necessary.
When treatment needs to be done trunk injections tend to be the perferred method used to treat this fungal disease. Fertilizers might also be introduced to help form new leaves. Always contact an arborist when it comes to the proper treatment processes for different trees.
