Although plane trees are resistant to diseases, fungal pathogens are and remain a threat. Some pass by quickly without doing any significant damage. Others, however, tear the tree to its death. Let's take a closer look at the three most common fungal diseases.
If the leaves of the plane tree turn yellow before autumn, a fungal disease may be behind it
The plane tree has to deal with these fungal diseases
- leaf tan
- Massaria disease
- plane crab
Notice:
Heavily pruned plane trees and specimens suffering from drought stress are also more susceptible to powdery mildew, which shows up as a white coating.
leaf tan
The fungus Apiognomonia veneta is responsible for this disease, which affects all plane tree species, but primarily the London Plane tree. Leaves, bark and shoots show the following damage pattern:
- the first leaves show brownish spots
- these have an irregular, jagged shape
- they start at the base of the leaf and run along the main veins
- damaged leaves fall off prematurely
- sometimes young shoots begin to wither
- this is followed by bark necrosis (death of affected parts)
The subsequent leaf generation usually remains healthy, which is why the disease does not weaken the tree too much. The situation is different when it erupts several years in a row. Affected branches are cut off and discarded.
Massaria disease
Middle-aged plane trees are more susceptible to this fungal disease. Heat and drought play their part.
- Parts of the bark initially turn pink to reddish
- die off later
- the following year, dark spores appear on the bark
- the plane tree is losing more and more bark
- the foliage becomes more and more sparse
- the diseased wood rots
- there is a risk of termination
Affected branches must be sawed off promptly so that they do not break off in an uncontrolled manner and possibly injure people or damage property.
tips
Take a closer look at higher branches, because they are often only diseased on one side (on the upper side). In this way, you can still take the necessary measures in good time.
plane crab
The disease, also known as sycamore wilt, is fatal after 3-4 years because it cannot be fought. However, the tree should be removed from the garden along with the roots as soon as the disease is discovered. The signs of the disease are:
- yellowing leaves before autumn
- a sparse foliage
- dying branches
- discolored and sunken spots on the bark