Hypoxylon Canker
Natural History
Hypoxylon canker on bark | Photo credit: G. Blakeslee - SFRC, Univ. of Forida
Hypoxylon canker is a disease caused by several different fungi in the genus Hypoxylon. It can attack hardwoods throughout Florida, and can cause considerable damage by hastening the death of already weakened or stressed trees.
The fungus reproduces by means of small spores that are wind-borne - spreading from infected to healthy trees. The fungus invades the tree bark and - when the tree becomes severely weakened - the fungus invades the living tissues. As the tissues are infected, they die - eventually resulting in the death of all or part of the tree.