Question about canker in poplars

[Crazy Canuck]

I' currently working on pruning a shelterbelt of about 50 poplars. On one end there are some young trees with canker. Originally the plan had been to cut out the infected parts of the trees and then with a lot of tlc over the next few years turn them back into nice trees. Upon closer inspection we found that five of the trees are infected right in the main trunk all within 2-3 feet of the ground. My question is, is there anyway to save these trees? What are the chances that the trees will compartmentalize the infection and go on to live a long healthy life. My recomendation to the client was to remove them to prevent spread of the infection into unaffected trees. They really don't want to remove the trees and are willing to have me monitor the other trees and watch for and remove any infection that spreads into them. Would this just be a waste of time and money?

 

[treeseer]

Is it Cryptodiaporthe canker, or something else? Know the enemy--ID the pest!

"Many infections are halted. Evenb highly susceptible poplars often resist infection and produce barriers of lignified parenchyma, then cork, that isolate lesions." Sinclair, Lyon.

Sanitation is key. prune out the cankered twigs. Send a picture of the cankers on the trunk and we can talk about treating those. as always tree vigor determines resistance.

 

[Crazy Canuck]

No digi cam, but I do have a roll of film thats almost burned up so I'll see what I can come up with.

It makes sort of a bulb where the infection is. It looks like a wedge in the branch. Almost like after entering it expands and forces the the brach open. When you cut it off the heart of the branch is an orangish red color.

 

[fpyontek]

What type of poplar is it?

Fred

 

[Crazy Canuck]

What type of poplar is it?

Fred

There are White Poplars

 

[fpyontek]

Without actually seeing the canker I can only guess at two types of canker.
1. Cryptodiaporthe poplea - Cankers often have a ridge of callus growth around their margins.
http://www.glfc.cfs.nrcan.gc.ca/treedisease/dothichiza_canker_of_poplar_e.html

2. Hypoxylon canker, Hypoxylon mammatum. - Bark cankers are first sunken, with yellow-orange areas surrounded by irregular margins, and then bark blisters and sloughs off.
http://plantclinic.cornell.edu/FactSheets/cankdispoplar/cankdispoplar.htm

For both types:
Pruning and disposing of infected wood can reduce the chance of further infection. Fertilize trees in the spring and water during dry weather to maintain tree vigor. There are no effective chemical controls.
Where pruning must be done, prune poplars in early to mid summer. Do not prune in late fall or winter.

Fred