I bought a beautiful Kotonoito maple last spring, it was very full and healthy looking, but one year later it is only leafting out on the bottom 1/4 of the tree? It was in the ground at the nursery and I put it in a large pot on my balcony, I have 3 other acers on my balcony, 2 are 10 years old. A landscaper suggested my kotonoito had a disease when I bought it? Any other ideas? I spent more than I have ever spent on a tree.
Good morning Jane and welcome to the maples forum, that does not sound good tbh. But have you done a scratch test on the wood that has no buds or leaves. It should be green underneath. If not then that wood is dead and should be removed. After you have done the scratch test, please post a photo of what you are looking at, including the whole tree, so members can get a better idea of what maybe wrong. If you are unsure of how to post photos, I have attached a link that explains how to do this. Attach photos and files
Yes, a couple of photos would definitely help. How tall is it ? It would be interesting to see if the leaves are 'Koto no ito', or the rootstock.
That's what I was thinking too when she said it was only leafing at the bottom. Not that anyone would confuse koto no ito for a mountain maple, but koto no ito is at least green and sort of upright, so the rootstock taking over might start out a bit more inconspicuous as opposed to when it occurs on a crimson queen or the like. Wouldn't explain the graft not leafing at all, though.
Good evening Jane, I think it's time to get a cross section look at one of the dead branches. My reason is, looking at some of the black and the tell tell signs of dead above live, this is possibly Verticulum wilt. When you cut into the branch, what you are looking for are black rings in the white wood. If you see this then I'm afraid it is Verticulum wilt. There is no treatment for this. But let's not get ahead of ourselves. Do a cut and let's see. Please post a photo of the cross section for members to see.
I believe you could also use a knife to gently scrape off the bark and cambium and take a look at the wood underneath. Verticillium wilt may show dark discoloration like in the picture below, but someone correct me if I'm wrong.
I hope these pics help? I included my blood good and sang kaku so you know I don’t kill all my trees!
I just wanted to show the dead seems to be mostly at the tip of the branch’s, but I’m wondering if the second pic looks like the Verticillium disease and could it transfer to my other acres? Could I have bought the tree with the disease?
I know you haven't posted a cross section Jane, but I can see the tell tell black in the white wood on photo 2. I'm afraid IMO your Koto-no-ito has Verticulum wilt. There is no treatment I'm afraid, so not good news at all. Your Koto-no-ito will die and should be disposed of. Do you have the receipt btw, some reputable nurseries will give a refund if a tree dies of this in the first year. Or they will replace like for like. Sorry I don't have better news for you Jane, but others reading this might have a different opinion. D
Looking at those cross sections, I don't either Jane, but your last photo no 2 did have the black markings that is typical of Verticulum wilt. So we maybe looking at Pseudomonas syringae which is treatable with a copper based fungacide. It is is now worth applying this to the pruned cuts. You need to remove the diseased wood down to good wood first. This treatment will take a couple of years to see any results.
