Maple: Nectria canker
categories: Maple Maple Diseases Ornamental trees Ornamentals
last review date: 2025-07-07 10:14
Photo by: R.S. Byther
Biology
Nectria is a fungal infection which often attacks via wounds and forms cankers on twigs, branches, and trunks.
The cankers are often sunken areas that develop conspicuous yellow to orange-red fungal fruiting bodies in the dead bark. Nectria cankers may girdle twigs and kill them or become elongated and enlarge year after year.
Older cankers may develop a characteristic target or bull’s-eye shape. Infected branches are susceptible to breakage in windstorms and should be removed.
Management Options
See "Using Integrated Pest Management (IPM) in the Landscape" for successful problem management techniques.
Non-chemical Management
Select non-chemical management options as your first choice!
- Provide proper culture to maintain healthy, vigorous, disease-resistant trees.
- Avoid wounding trees.
- Prune and destroy infected twigs and branches.
- Prune properly to reduce risk of infection through pruning wounds or stubs.
- To minimize infection risks, do not plant in cold pockets or on poorly drained sites.
Chemical Management
IMPORTANT: Visit Home and Garden Fact Sheets for more information on using pesticides.
- None recommended
WSU Extension programs and employment are available to all without discrimination.
Evidence of noncompliance may be reported through your local Extension office.