Pest
Management Home Page Dr. John F. Baniecki Spot anthracnose is a fungus disease (Elsinoe corni) that causes spots on flower bracts, leaves, young shoots, and berries of the flowering dogwood. A serious disfigurement of the flowers and foliage may result. In severe infections the flower buds may never open and foliage becomes sparse. Continued shoot infection results in death of the twigs. Symptoms Typical lesions on the flower bracts are oval with reddish-purple margins. The center of the lesion is a dirty yellow color. On the leaves the lesions are circular and purple in color. The leaves later become tan or gray, and the centers drop out leaving a "shot-hole" appearance. Heavily infected leaves are small, misshapen, and often die. Elongate scabby lesions occur on young shoots that also have a purplish margin. The symptoms of the berries are also scabby spots with purple margins. Severely infected berries may be deformed and their production is reduced. |
