Sapstreak disease of sugar maple - Maple Tree Sapstreak Disease

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service. 1979. A guide to common insects and diseases of forest trees in the northeastern United States. Northeast. Area State and Private Forestry, Forest Insect and Disease Management., Broomall, PA. p. 123, illus.(USDA Forest Service, Northeast Area State and Private Forestry Publication. NA-FR-4)

Sapstreak disease of sugar maple, caused by the fungus Ceratocystis coerulescens, is uncommon. The disease has been found in only a few localities in Michigan, North Carolina, Vermont, and Wisconsin. However, the disease is lethal and will become important if it becomes widespread. Only sugar maple is known to be affected, but yellow-poplar is susceptible to a strain of C. coerulescens.
Sapstreak in sugar maple first causing a dwarfing of the leaves in all or a portion of the crown. Over the next several years, the tree gradually declines: the leaves become more dwarfed, the condition spreads to all portions of the crown, and twigs and branches often die back. After 3 or 4 years, the tree dies. As crown symptoms develop, the wood, usually only in the lower stem and roots, becomes stained. A cross section of the stem usually shows a radiating pattern of dull gray or brown stain with green outer tips.
C. coerulescens often grows as a saprophyte on recently killed or cut wood. The fungus produces both sexual and asexual spores. The spores, like the spores of other species of Ceratocystis, are sticky and are spread by insects or other animals. Wounds caused by logging are the most common entry points for the fungus.

This page was last modified 15:39, 8 September 2010 by Erin Griffin.
Based on work by ONOMO.

Content is available for non-profit, educational use under our Copyright Agreement.
Developed by the Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health at the University of Georgia.