London Plane Tree Prone to Anthracnose: How to Protect

Platanus x hispanica

Susceptibility: High Severity: High Difficulty: Easy

Anthracnose is a fungal disease caused by fungi in the genus Colletotrichum that affects many plants, including vegetables, fruits, and trees. The disease thrives in cool, wet conditions, causing dark, sunken lesions on leaves, stems, flowers, and fruits.

🔍 Symptoms

• Small irregular yellow or brown spots on leaves
• Dark sunken lesions on leaves, stems, flowers and fruits
• Water-soaked lesions that darken as they age
• Pink gelatinous masses of spores in lesion centers during warm, moist weather
• Spots that expand and may cover entire leaves
• Defoliation in advanced stages

❓ Possible Causes

→ Caused by fungi in the genus Colletotrichum
→ Cool wet weather promotes development
→ Optimum temperature between 75-85°F (24-29°C)
→ Foliage wet for extended periods of time
→ Fungi overwinter in seeds, soil and garden debris
→ Spores spread through water droplets

💊 Treatment

⚡

Quick Fixes

Remove and discard all visibly infected parts

Apply commercial systemic fungicide (azoxystrobin or mancozeb)

Adjust irrigation to avoid wetting foliage

Second application of systemic fungicide

Assess treatment effectiveness

🌿

Organic Treatment

Remove all infected plant parts and discard in plastic bag

Apply organic liquid copper spray to all plant surfaces

Switch irrigation regime to drip, avoiding foliage wetting

Second application of copper fungicide or neem oil

Assess progress and remove any new lesions

Final organic fungicide application and ongoing monitoring

🛡️ Prevention

✓ Implement drip irrigation instead of overhead watering
✓ Give plants enough room to breathe and reduce humidity
✓ Remove infected plant material after harvest
✓ Practice crop rotation between hosts and non-hosts
✓ Choose resistant plant varieties when possible
✓ Use western grown seeds not exposed to the disease
✓ Avoid wetting foliage during watering
✓ Ensure good air circulation around plants

🌱 Care Guide: London Plane Tree

💧 How to Water

Water newly planted trees deeply once a week for the first 1–2 years. Established trees need watering every 10 days during dry summers. Avoid waterlogging—ensure the planting site has good drainage to prevent root rot and canker diseases.

☀️ Lighting

Plant in a location with full sun (at least 6 hours of direct sunlight daily). The London Plane does not tolerate heavy shade and grows best when unobstructed by taller buildings or canopy. South or west-facing open sites are ideal.

🪴 Ideal Soil

Use rich, loamy, well-draining soil with a pH between 6.0 and 7.5. The London Plane tolerates clay and slightly alkaline soils but performs best in moist, fertile loam. Amend planting holes with organic compost to improve drainage and nutrient availability.

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