''Botryosphaeria stevensii'' is a fungal

plant pathogen Plant pathology (also phytopathology) is the scientific study of diseases in plants caused by pathogens (infectious organisms) and environmental conditions (physiological factors). Organisms that cause infectious disease include fungi, oomyc ...

that causes

canker A plant canker is a small area of dead tissue, which grows slowly, often over years. Some cankers are of only minor consequence, but others are ultimately lethal and therefore can have major economic implications for agriculture and horticultur ...

s on several tree species including apple and

juniper Junipers are coniferous trees and shrubs in the genus ''Juniperus'' () of the cypress family Cupressaceae. Depending on the taxonomy, between 50 and 67 species of junipers are widely distributed throughout the Northern Hemisphere, from the Arcti ...

as well as

black dead arm Phomopsis cane and leaf spot occurs wherever grapes are grown. Phomopsis cane and leaf spot is more severe in grape-growing regions characterized by a humid temperate climate through the growing season. Crop losses up to 30% have been reported to ...

on grape. It causes branch

dieback Dieback may refer to a number of plant problems and diseases including: * Forest dieback caused by acid rain, heavy metal pollution, or imported pathogens * The death of regions of a plant or similar organism caused by physical damage, such as from ...

, possibly effecting a large portion of the tree canopy, and if severe it can kill entire plants. Prevention efforts may include careful selection of plants, including resistant

cultivars A cultivar is a type of Horticulture, cultivated plant that people have selected for desired phenotypic trait, traits and when Plant propagation, propagated retain those traits. Methods used to propagate cultivars include: division, root and st ...

, planting in well-draining loose soils, exposure to light and plant spacing to reduce moisture retention.

References

External links

Index Fungorum

USDA ARS Fungal Database
Fungal plant pathogens and diseases Apple tree diseases Grapevine trunk diseases stevensii Fungi described in 1964 {{fungus-fruit-disease-stub