So just went to my friends and he said he topped his 7-8 leaf Loquat tree because it was dying back. Then I noticed this stain on the bark and told him to cut it back. Dead wood.
Is this from a fungus? He said that he noticed other trees around with the same die back.
Most the branches were budding out but it appears that he’ll have to remove more possibly stump it and graft over?
@george @ramv
I would guess it’s fireblight. It hits loquats pretty hard in Sacramento and nearby. Not so sure based on the stem cross-section, but the reference to die-back makes it the leading candidate in my book.
You know what I think you’re right! It looked just like it and the way it’s spreading down. I remember hearing about loquat trees getting fireblight here in Sacramento recently also. Not good. He deals with it on some of his Asian pear trees too not far away. Strange after so many years growing them together it’s just hit the loquat tree. Wonder if it’s a mutated or different type of fireblight. Thanks
Thats horrible! Fireblight destroyed all my pear trees one year. I stopped growing pears.
So far my loquats and apples have stayed out of trouble.
He blames the fireblight on his Asian pears on a large Callery tree across the street. It really is a terrible disease.
