Help, persimmon branches look diseased

[scottfsmith]

I think that is KSDS unfortunately. There is an active thread now about it:

Kaki sudden death syndrome -- help?

Several of my kaki (North GA, zone 8a) are suddenly dying, after being the picture of health and vigor for the last several weeks. Apparently healthy leaves are just dropping off, still green, followed by the bare new stems shriveling up. A bark scratch test reveals green cambium. All trees were purchased from mail-order nurseries and are presumably on northern D.V. rootstock. There are a few other kaki (another Fuyu and a Giombo) that are so far not afflicted. The first to be struck down by t…

It is surprising this is not better-known given how so many people here are having issues with it. I just took out two trees with it myself.