Source: NCSU COOPERATIVE EXTENSION

Introduction
Anthracnose is a term used to describe a variety of fungal infections affecting hardwood trees. These infections involve many fungal species and host trees. Examples include maple anthracnose, oak anthracnose, and dogwood spot anthracnose. Symptoms can vary and may include leaf lesions (Figure 1), premature leaf drop, cankers, and twig dieback. While most anthracnose infections are cosmetic, severe infection can lead to defoliation (Figure 3) as well as disfigured twigs and branches. The anthracnose infections discussed in this factsheet should not be confused with dogwood anthracnose, which is a serious disease caused by a non-native fungal pathogen that can kill flowering dogwood trees (Benthamidia florida).

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