Cinnamomum iners Basal Rot Disease

Cinnamomum iners (Wild Cinnamon tree) seemed to be susceptible to the basal rot disease, which cause trees to die quickly and may fail (topple) suddenly. Matured trees with above 1m in girth have been observed to be inflicted with the disease but not in younger trees.

- Yellow and/or browning leaves
- Signs of wilting
- Crown dieback
- Horizontally and vertically cracked bark on lower part of trunks and trunk flare
- Underneath cracked bark, wood is discoloured

Fungal causal agents that lead to wood rot includes:
Cytospora species, Fusarium solani, Ganoderma species, Clonostachys species, Clonostachys rosea, Gliocladium solani

Cinnamomum iners tree that was lush with healthy leaves before receiving the typical TC pruning treatment - topping off and removing almost all leaves. Shortly after, the tree seemed to have problems growing back its leaves. Most new leaves turned brown and those that did not seemed to be wilting.

 

 Cracked bark in horizontal and vertical pattern.

 

 Closer look.

   

    

Adjacent trees are growing new shoots and leaves, and no sign of cracks in the bark.

(About 3 months after the photos above were taken)

Hopea odorata sapling planted about 1.5m away from the spot where the old tree was. Hope (pun not intended) that this tree would be resistant against the basal rot fungus. Apparently it was forgottened after planting, as it was not watered and defoliation followed.