Sycamore Anthracnose: Identifying Characteristics
| Identifying the injury: | Dead twigs and buds in early spring; shoot dieback beginning in late spring and necrosis (dead patches) on new and old leaves – often beginning along the main veins and midrib, then coalescing into larger lesions during summer. Defoliation may occur and trees may refoliate during warmer and drier weather. Larger branches may die after several years of infection. |
| Identifying the pathogen: | Small black fruiting bodies and microscopic spores on stems and twigs. Also, microscopic spores and fruiting bodies on infected leaves. |
| Susceptible trees: | American sycamore (Platanus occidentalis) in Florida. |