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RE: italian cypress dead patches

In response to my question about dead patches on Italian cypresses Hugo
Latymer wrote:

"And I am another that would like to know. I have been told that it is
Coryneum cancer and that it is very rampant in Italy. Small branches and
shoots up to 20cm long die all over the tree with us, not largish patches a
foot across as they do with you. Except under really bad conditions
Cupressus sempervirens seldom dies but C. macrocarpa is more affected by it
and lines of trees sometimes die completely."

Hugo, this is bad news. If C. sempervirens is subject to what we call here
Cypress canker it may well damage a lot of trees in this part of the world.
Certainly with Monterey cypress (C. macrocarpa) the advice given is to seek
and destroy the affected tree. Is that same advice not necessary for C.
sempervirens to prevent the disease spreading?

I don't know of a cure for it. In fact, it is sufficiently serious that
many do not grow C. macrocarpa any more. The only 'remedy' is to plant a
non-affected species, C. forbesii. This species, a native of these parts,
has a defense - it sheds its bark each year just like many tropical
rainforest trees do. The bark is dark, shining red and quite beautiful. I
don't inderstand how shedding of the bark prevents a canker disease but am
assured that is how it defends itself. In any case I have never seen it
affected.

I have another question. Is the non-fastigate form of C. sempervirens also
subject to attack?

Andrew
San Diego, California
awilson@fda.net
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