How to Manage Pests

UC Pest Management Guidelines

Almond

Band Canker

Pathogens: Botryosphaeria dothidea

(Reviewed 3/09, updated 3/09)

In this Guideline:

SYMPTOMS AND SIGNS

Band canker is unusual because unlike other cankers it extends around the branch or trunk instead of longitudinally along the affected part. Cankers occur on the trunk or the lower portion of scaffold branches, with infection taking place through growth cracks in the bark on young trees. The fungus kills the bark and cambium layer, and the affected area becomes sunken and frequently girdles the limb. During the growing season copious amounts of amber-colored gum exude from the cankered area, forming a necklace or band of gumballs around the affected part of the tree. Band cankers occur infrequently, are active only during warm summer weather, and usually do not reactivate the following year. Some cankers become chronic and sometimes trees are killed.

COMMENTS ON THE DISEASE

Band or Dothiorella canker occurs sporadically throughout the Central Valley. It primarily attacks trees in their third to fifth year. It has most commonly been reported on vigorous Nonpareil trees but can also be found on Padre, Mission, Ne Plus Ultra, Davey, Drake, Carmel, Aldrich, and Price.

MANAGEMENT

Band canker is of minor importance in almond orchards. Management practices include removal of alternate hosts adjacent to almond orchards, minimizing trunk and scaffold wetness from irrigation systems, and removal of infected branches or trees from almond orchards.

PUBLICATION

UC IPM Pest Management Guidelines: Almond
UC ANR Publication 3431

Diseases

J. E. Adaskaveg, Plant Pathology, UC Riverside
W. D. Gubler, Plant Pathology, UC Davis
Roger Duncan, UC Cooperative Extension, Stanislaus County
J. J. Stapleton, UC IPM Program, Kearney Agricultural Center, Parlier
B. A. Holtz, UC Cooperative Extension, San Joaquin County

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