Massaria disease

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The massaria disease , or just massaria, is a fungal disease ( Splanchnonema platani ) that affects older plane trees . The fungus has probably always been found on plane trees and was responsible for the so-called "branch cleaning" (a noticeable amount of branches that seem to have been thrown off without an external trigger). Since 2000, however, a significant increase in deadwood formation and broken branches has been observed in Gelsenkirchen . Even the strongest guests were not spared. The fungus was first detected in Germany in 2003. Splanchnonema platani often occurs in dense stands of plane trees, especially in avenues .

Because of the frequent use of the plane tree as a street and city tree, the massaria disease represents a considerable impairment of road safety and has become a very serious problem in tree care . A comprehensive guarantee of the traffic safety obligation, in view of the justified safety expectations of the traffic, is financially and personally a heavy burden.

Symptoms

The infection is demonstrated by several symptoms. The most common symptom is a brown discoloration of the affected branch, which at the same time dies in its entire length. Sycamore branches that have died for other reasons usually only fade. Further symptoms are much more difficult to recognize: In the initial stage, the bark of infected branches turns reddish-purple, stripes on the upper side of the branch, with longer duration of the attack there is a stripe-like death of the bark on the upper side near the branch base. Often there is a black coating on the bark that is formed by the spores of the fungus. Under this black discoloration, wood decomposes very quickly . Even thick branches (Ø from 10 cm - 20 cm) can fail and break off within four months due to brittle fracture . The black discoloration on the branches directly on the branch collar is also characteristic. The break point is relatively smooth due to the partitioning of the branch. On closer inspection, pin-sized black dots can be seen in the area near the trunk. With more recent infestation, a wedge-shaped infection can be observed with cut branches, which extends to the middle of the branch.

The infestation by the massaria disease is not continuously recognizable on a tree, i. H. in the following years the symptoms may not appear or appear at irregular intervals.

activities

For the tree control, or the traffic safety obligation , results from this:

The inspection intervals must be shortened and branches must be processed promptly according to the FLL "Guidelines for regular inspections on trees", or the immediate removal and restoration of road safety must be initiated.
Quarterly inspection intervals have shown that heavy branches were infested again soon after tree care measures.

Since it cannot be foreseen which branch will be attacked next, precautionary cutting measures are not technically justifiable. Endangered trees are to be checked at short intervals and affected branches, especially coarse and thick branches, are to be removed if necessary.

literature

FLL : Guideline for regular control of trees

Web links

A description of the disease with photos (PDF file; 245 kB)
Massaria disease of the plane tree on hortipendium.de