What's up with this Lime

[maybelateron]

I have attached some photos of a large mature Lime. It was fine last year other than perhaps being a bit slower coming into leaf. This year about 40 per cent of the crown, in one area as opposed to diffusely, failed to come into leaf at all, and the bit nearest to this section has pale and sparse foliage. There were no signs of the flat grey plaques of Ustulina/Kreutzmaria Deusta around the base of the trunk, but there were numerous of these bodies higher up, say to 15/18ft. There was also one area of diffuse discolouration of the bark similar to that seen on Chestnuts with Bleeding Canker. Thoughts on the culprit here would be welcome. 

[AA Teccie (Paul)]

Phytopthora perhaps...fungi loom similar to Daldinia, something saprophytic perhaps.

Perhaps too much "perhaps'ing until Mr Humphries come along 😉

[Khriss]

Does look like concentrica to me, could be time for the saw  😳 K

[daltontrees]

Doesn't look like Daldinia to me. I've never seen Daldinia on lime either and never on a tree tha wasn't dead already or as good as.

[openspaceman]

1 hour ago, daltontrees said:

Doesn't look like Daldinia to me. I've never seen Daldinia on lime either and never on a tree tha wasn't dead already or as good as.

OTOH K deusta rips through limes

[Steve Bullman]

4 minutes ago, openspaceman said:

OTOH K deusta rips through limes

Never heard of it at height before though.

 

@David Humphries what you reckon?

[Mark J]

It looks like someone's spiked up it.