European Canker

Nectria galligena

Symptoms
In fall or spring European canker causes reddish brown lesions to appear on small branches just below leaf scars. These elongate into cankers with concentric ridges and may cause dieback of shoots in spring. Calyx rot of fruits can occur in years when rain precedes harvest. Pruning wound infections are seen occasionally (especially on the Delicious cultivar). On superficial examination, such infections may be confused with fire blight.
This fungus survives in old bark cankers and produces spores that enter fresh leaf scars during fall rains. The Delicious variety is most susceptible, followed by Gravenstein and Rome Beauty. This disease is worse in the Sebastopol area of Sonoma County in years with prolonged fall rains.

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