What's wrong with my plant? Give us your feedback

Hackberry > Leaves > Leaves wilt and turn yellow or brown

1 of 5
  • Image: Armillaria root rot 1
    Credit: M. Grabowski, University of Minnesota
  • Image: Armillaria root rot 2

    Credit: M. Grabowski, University of Minnesota

  • Image: Armillaria root rot 3

    Credit: J. O'Brien, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org

  • - CLICK PHOTOS TO ENLARGE -

green arrowArmillaria root rot
Armillaria spp.

  • Infected trees have poor growth, dead branches in the upper canopy, undersized and/or yellow leaves
  • Flat white sheets of fungal mycelia (mycelia fans) grow between the bark and sapwood at the base of infected trees
  • Thick black, shoestring-like fungus can sometimes be seen under the bark, around roots and in the soil around the base of the tree
  • Wood is decayed, white, soft and spongy, and this may extend from the base of the tree well up into the trunk
  • Trees frequently break or fall over in storms
  • Clusters of honey-colored mushrooms may grow at the base of the tree in fall
  • More information on Armillaria root rot...
2 of 5
  • Image: Branch cankers 1
    Credit: E.L. Barnard, FL Dept. of Ag. and Consumer Services, Bugwood.org
  • Image: Branch cankers 2

    Credit: Univ. of GA Plant Pathology Archive, Univ. of GA, Bugwood.org

  • Image: Branch cankers 3

    Credit: Univ. of GA Plant Pathology Archive, Univ. of GA, Bugwood.org

  • - CLICK PHOTOS TO ENLARGE -

green arrowBranch cankers
Botryosphaeria stevensii or Botryosphaeria spp.

  • Scattered dead branches seen throughout canopy
  • Leaves on random branches wilt, turn yellow then brown during the growing season
  • Infected branches don't leaf out in spring
  • Cankers are brown to black sunken areas on branch that may have cracked bark and discolored sapwood
  • Common on trees stressed by drought, winter injury, wounds, insect feeding or other factors
  • More information on Branch cankers...
3 of 5
  • Image: Coral spot canker 1
    Credit: M. Grabowski, University Of Minnesota
  • Image: Coral spot canker 2

    Credit: M. Grabowski, University Of Minnesota

  • Image: Coral spot canker 3

    Credit: P. Kapitola, State Phytosanitary Admin., Bugwood.org

  • - CLICK PHOTOS TO ENLARGE -

green arrowCoral spot canker
Nectria cinnabarina

  • Dead branches and twigs, often first observed in early spring when no leaves form
  • Or, wilting soon after leaves emerge in spring
  • Sunken dark brown area on branch that is often cracked or has a ridge at the edge
  • Raised cushion-like bumps on affected branches, may be cream to orange or red, turn black with age
  • Common on trees stressed by drought, recent transplant or
    other factors
  • More information on Coral spot canker...
4 of 5
  • Image: Heart rot 1
    Credit: N Cent'l Research Station Archive, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org
  • Image: Heart rot 2

    Credit: M. Grabowski, University of Minnesota

  • Image: Heart rot 3

    Credit: R. Koetter, University Of Minnesota

  • - CLICK PHOTOS TO ENLARGE -

green arrowHeart rot
Polyporus squamosus, Laetiporus sulfereus and others

  • The canopy may show no symptoms or may have small yellowing leaves/dead branches depending on the extent of the trunk decay
  • Fungal fruiting bodies arise along the stem, near a pruning wound, crack or other wound
  • Many shapes and sizes of fungal fruiting bodies may be seen
  • In cross section of the trunk, the wood at the center is discolored, soft, crumbling, stringy or spongy
  • More information on Heart rot...
5 of 5
  • Image: Ganoderma root and butt rot 1
    Credit: M. Grabowski, University of Minnesota
  • Image: Ganoderma root and butt rot 2

    Credit: M. Grabowski, University of Minnesota

  • Image: Ganoderma root and butt rot 3

    Credit: M. Grabowski, University of Minnesota

  • - CLICK PHOTOS TO ENLARGE -

green arrowGanoderma root and butt rot
Ganoderma spp.

  • Leaves are smaller in size and turn yellow earlier than normal
  • Canopy appears thin with few leaves and multiple dead branches
  • Fungal conks, a semicircle shelf fungi, can be found from the base of the tree up to 3 feet high on the trunk
  • Conks are reddish brown and shiny on top, white and porous underneath; a rim of white may be visible on the edge of
    growing conks
  • Infected wood at the tree base is white, soft, stringy or spongy
  • Infected trees frequently break or fall over in storms
  • More information on Ganoderma root and butt rot...

Don't see what you're looking for?