My plum tree - "Peach Plum" (variety not remembered) - is showing unusual problems. It has areas where small branches and fruiting spurs have died and the leaves have turned black when they were still very small - maybe 1/2" long or so. There are also a number of areas where sap has formed small balls on these small branches (both dead and not dead). The branch under the sap balls seems normal - no evidence of a large hole, no swollen branch or dead bark. The problem is visible in that there is a noticeable reduction in the number of leaves on the tree - most obvious in the lower part of the tree. Some history: the tree is about 9 years old. About five or six years ago it suffered from canker on an upper main branch, but that was pruned out and has not been seen for the last several years. Last year, there was an aphid outbreak, but that was handled with lady bugs. There was a modest yield of fruit last year, but that may have been due to a large yield the year before that or the aphid outbreak. Last winter, the tree was lightly pruned as usual - some of the top branches were shortened last fall as well. Dormant oil and lime-sulphur was applied last Feb. but no other sprays were used. This spring, the tree flowered normally, so the problem was not obvious until the leaves failed to show up. This does not look like canker and it is not peach-tree borer. There may be some dusting from the dead buds as if it is a fungus, but it does not match any that I have found. Does this look familiar to anyone here?
