Id please as to why this apple tree failed

[button1803]

Hi guys,

 

Could some one please shed some light into why this stem on this apple tree gave up, am i right in saying..

 

(Gerrit) a very poorly union, forced apart by bark to bark contact ABOVE the union not included within the union, as growth (secondary thickening) continued the union was year on year forced open, allowing ingress of water (possibly anaerobic conditions hence the dark wood)...

 

The main stem on the pic is my fault for the rubbish position, but where it has split, their was an old medium size branch taken off where it created a union on the stem if that makes sense?

hence all the brown area....

 

thanks for your help

[Tony Croft aka hamadryad]

intense white rot

[Matthew Arnold]

Hi guys,

 

Could some one please shed some light into why this stem on this apple tree gave up, am i right in saying..

 

(Gerrit) a very poorly union, forced apart by bark to bark contact ABOVE the union not included within the union, as growth (secondary thickening) continued the union was year on year forced open, allowing ingress of water (possibly anaerobic conditions hence the dark wood)...

 

The main stem on the pic is my fault for the rubbish position, but where it has split, their was an old medium size branch taken off where it created a union on the stem if that makes sense?

hence all the brown area....

 

thanks for your help

 

 

 

Too me it looks like it had an intense white rotter at play. The dodgy union would have been playing a role with its demise but if the wood was still sound (i.e. no rot) then it would have held up for a long time to come. The fibres would have been alot more visible in the failure too if no rot was present. I think a Phellinus spp may have got in there or even a Ganoderma but it hasnt shown any fruiting bodies yet.

 

Edit: Was writing as Hama posted:001_tt2:

Edited September 17, 2011 by Matthew Arnold

[skyhuck]

It were buggered.

[skyhuck]

Too me it looks like it had an intense white rotter at play. The dodgy union would have been playing a role with its demise but if the wood was still sound (i.e. no rot) then it would have held up for a long time to come. The fibres would have been alot more visible in the failure too if no rot was present. I think a Phellinus spp may have got in there or even a Ganoderma but it hasnt shown any fruiting bodies yet.

 

Edit: Was writing stuff from Hama posted:001_tt2:

 

Fixed it for you

 

[Pat Ferrett]

It could have been an over weight Tree surgeon trying to limb walk.

[Matthew Arnold]

Fixed it for you

 

 

I was breifly confused but then saw the little change.

[Gollum]

It is commonly known as collar rot, true name is Phytophthora cactorum.

this can be common in fruit trees Grown in damp soils.

Also can be induced by poor match of root stock and scion

[Fungus]

It is commonly known as collar rot, true name is Phytophthora cactorum. this can be common in fruit trees Grown in damp soils. Also can be induced by poor match of root stock and scion

 

Gollum,

I thought the type of rot caused by P. cactorum or P. capsici in Malus looked like this.

[Gollum]

Gollum,

I thought the type of rot caused by P. cactorum or P. capsici in Malus looked like this.

 

The infection in malus that is also infected by Nectria galligena Dose look like that,

but it is quite common to take the appearance of of the picture at the start of this thread.

It is also common to be infected by Schizophyllum commune or one of the coriolus family. these would induce the white rot

it can be misleading when relating malus to other broadleaved species,