Japanese Maple Anthracnose
As the disease and the season progresses the spots grow and may eventually cover the entire leaf.
Japanese maple anthracnose. Last fall i bought a ratty bloodgood japanese maple and planted it. Japanese maple trees are susceptible to diseases such as anthracnose verticillium wilt tar spot leaf spot leaf scorch and root rot. Certain varieties of japanese maple planted in wet warm climates are prone to this fungus. Anthracnose fungi overwinter within senescent leaf tissue and in infected twigs and buds.
There are two types of blight. Black tar like spots appearing on the leaves is a sure sign the japanese maple is infected with anthracnose. This fungal disease results in distorted foliage stem dieback cankers. Anthracnose in maple trees is quite common.
Three types of fungi routinely present problems for japanese maple trees. Blight and fungal infections. On sugar maple lesions occur along primary veins and appear as large brown blotches. Well now the new sapling has leafed out and despite my attempts at hygiene cleaning leaf litter and applying a microbial fungicide during bud break i now see tan spots on the leaves.
Some of these diseases are potentially deadly while others are usually harmless and merely cosmetic. On japanese maples cankers look tan or grey compared to the usual red color of healthy branches. This was to replace a japanese maple sapling that succumbed to tan spots the previous year. On japanese maple lesions occur along primary veins and leaf margins and appear as tan colored papery spots.
When left untreated anthracnose is fatal to japanese maple trees. These fungi are botrytis fusarium and verticillium. The cool wet weather of spring often brings on the disease.