Horticulture/Cankers

right|thumb|Butternut canker is a lethal disease of Butternut trees, and has no cure. thumb|Canker on a birch Canker is a general term for a large number of different plant diseases, characterised by broadly similar symptoms including the appearance of distorted, tumor-like growth and areas of dead tissue, which grow slowly, often over a period of years. Some are of only minor consequence, but others are ultimately lethal, and of major economic importance in agriculture and horticulture. Different cankers and anthracnoses are caused by a wide range of organisms, including fungi, bacteria,phytoplasmas and viruses. The majority of canker-causing organisms are tied obligately to a single host species or genus, but a few will attack a wider range of plants. Some cankers are treatable with fungicides or bactericides, but many are not; often the only treatment available is to destroy the infected plant to prevent the disease from spreading to other plants. Bacterial Cankers Ash bacterial canker, caused by the bacterium Pseudomonas syringae Citrus canker, caused by the bacterium Xanthomonas axonopodis Poplar canker, caused by the bacterium Xanthomonas populi Fungal Cankers Apple canker, caused by the fungi Nectria galligena Butternut canker, caused by the fungus Sirococcus clavigigenti-juglandacearum Cypress canker, caused by the fungus Seridium cardinale Dogwood anthracnose, caused by the fungus Discula destructiva Grape canker, caused by the water mold Eutypa lata Honey locust canker, caused by the fungus Thyronectria austro-americana Mulberry canker, caused by the fungus Gibberella baccata Oak canker, caused by the fungus Diplodia quercina Pine pitch canker, caused by the fungus Fusarium pini Plane anthracnose, caused by the fungus Apiognomonia veneta Rapeseed stem canker, caused by the blackleg fungus Leptosphaeria maculans Rose cankers, caused by the fungi Leptosphaeria coniothyrium and Cryptosporella umbrina Scleroderris canker, caused by the fungus Gremmeniella abietina Willow anthracnose, caused by the fungus Marssonina salicicola Phytoplasma-caused Cankers Viral Cankers See also ../Galls/ ../Dieback/ ../Anthracnose/