DiseaseMedium Severity

Melanconium Dieback

Melanconium betulinum

A fungal disease affecting all birch species, causing progressive browning of foliage and dieback of twigs and branches. The disease is typically associated with stress factors such as borer infestations, drought, poor drainage, and extreme temperatures.

Peak Season: Active infection: Throughout growing seasonSpore release: During favorable moisture conditionsCanker development: Progressive expansion during warm weatherPeak damage: During hot, dry periods when trees are stressedSymptom expression: Most visible during summer stress periods
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Melanconium dieback symptoms on birch

Identification & Symptoms

What to Look For

Progressive browning of foliage starting at tips
Dieback of twigs and branches from the top down
Flattened, sunken, swollen, and discolored cankers on branches
Red-brown diseased bark dotted with cupped black fruiting bodies
Branch mortality from girdling cankers
Overall decline in tree health and vigor

Potential Damage

Progressive crown dieback and branch mortality
Reduced photosynthetic capacity from foliage loss
Structural weakness from canker development
Potential tree mortality in severely affected specimens
Economic losses in birch stands and landscape plantings
Increased susceptibility to secondary pests and diseases

Lifecycle

Acervuli are embedded in outer bark with hyphae extending into the cambium. Conidia are released to invade bark through natural openings such as lenticels, where new acervuli develop. Infection continues throughout the growing season with progressive canker development.

Professional Treatment Approach

1

Fungisol applications for disease management

2

Address predisposing stress factors: drought, poor drainage, temperature stress

3

Control borer infestations that may predispose trees to infection

4

Improve growing conditions and site management

5

Remove severely affected branches to reduce inoculum

Recommended Mauget Products

Fungisol

Professional-grade treatment specifically effective against melanconium dieback.

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