What is Killing this Aspen?

[svk]

Here's one of several small aspen I cut last month that are dying or dead. Leaves are dying/dead and core of tree is wet and stained dark brown. Several of these trees were rotting at the base also (with the dark staining all the way from top to bottom) and we are talking 4-8" diameter trees, not large older ones. It appears that "something" is living in the leaves.

Thanks in advance for your thoughts!

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[PJM]

With aspen I would always suspect hypoxylon canker. Any noticeable sunken areas or blistered bark?

Hypoxylon Canker of Aspen - FIDL

 

[svk]

In these trees no. What about the weird stuff in the leaves?

At our other property the trees are getting massacred by the cankers.

 

[PJM]

Sorry, can't really tell what's going on from the photos. Can you get better close-ups?

 

[Jed1124]

Brown stained sap wood makes me think possibly verticillium wilt. European aspen are susceptible but I am not sure of our native trees. Like all cases of tree disease if you want a positive Id getting the infected wood tested is the only way to be sure.

 

[sgreanbeans]

Like he said, ya need to get it tested. Many times, guys will think its one, but really its another.

 

[svk]

Thanks for the responses.

I did some research on the wilt and some of the pictures did have the raised areas in the leaves similar to this one. Unfortunately I only took a couple of cell phone pics before these went into the burn pile. If I come across any more I will contact my local DNR forester as I've known him for years.

Thanks again