Cause The fungus Colletotrichum gloeosporioides has been found a few times by the OSU Plant Clinic and is considered an occasional problem in BC. It is a problem on Euonymus japonica and E. fortunei including the very susceptible cultivars Canadale Gold, Emerald Gaiety, and Emerald 'n Gold. The fungus is favored by warm temperatures and long wet periods.
Symptoms Small leaf lesions with white, gray, or tan centers and dark or reddish borders. Centers of lesions frequently fall out, giving the leaf a "shot-hole" appearance. Stem cankers are small, oval and may be raised and scabby. Larger cankers may girdle the stem causing dieback and defoliation.
Cultural control
- Grow less susceptible cultivars.
- Remove fallen leaves and other plant debris from production areas.
- Do not overwater, and irrigate when leaves can dry quickly.
- Remove and destroy heavily infected plant parts.
- Improve air circulation with increased plant spacing.
- Grow under high shade intensities, rather than full sun or light shade.
Chemical control Use during warm wet weather in the spring. Discontinue when dry weather prevails.
- Armada 50 WDG at 3 to 9 oz/100 gal water. Do not use a silicone-based surfactant. Not for nursery or greenhouse use. Group 3 + 11 fungicide. 12-hr reentry.
- Avelyo at 3 to 5 fl oz/100 gal water. Group 3 fungicide. 12-hr reentry.
- Banner MAXX at 5 to 8 fl oz/100 gal water. Group 3 fungicide. 12-hr reentry.
- Broadform at 4 to 8 fl oz/100 gal water. Group 7 + 11 fungicide. 12-hr reentry.
- Compass 50 WDG at 1 to 2 oz/100 gal water. Do not use organosilicate additives. Group 11 fungicide. 12-hr reentry.
- Concert at 22 to 35 fl oz/100 gal water. May cause injury to buds, blooms, or tender new growth. Landscape use only. Group 3 + M5 fungicide. 12-hr reentry.
- Daconil Weather Stik at 1.38 pints/100 gal water. Group M5 fungicide. 12-hr reentry.
- Eagle 20 EW at 6 to 12 fl oz/100 gal water. Group 3 fungicide. 24-hr reentry.
- Heritage at 1 to 8 oz/100 gal water plus a non-silicone-based wetter sticker. Group 11 fungicide. 4-hr reentry.
- Mancozeb-based products. Group M3 fungicides. 24-hr reentry.
- Fore 80 WP at 1.5 lb/100 gal water plus a spreader-sticker.
- Protect DF at 1 to 2 lb/100 gal water plus 2 to 4 oz spreader-sticker.
- Monterey Liqui-Cop at 3 Tbsp/gal water. H
- Myclobutanil 20 EW T&O at 6 to 12 fl oz/100 gal water plus spreading agent. May observe a PGR effect. Group 3 fungicide. 24-hr reentry.
- Pageant at 6 to 12 oz/100 gal water. Do not use on Euonymus vegetus as injury may occur. Do not use with organosilicone-based adjuvants. Group 7 + 11 fungicide. 12-hr reentry.
- Terraguard SC at 4 to 8 fl oz/100 gal water. Group 3 fungicide. 12-hr reentry.
- Tourney EZ at 1 to 4 oz/100 gal water. Group 3 fungicide. 12-hr reentry.
- Trinity at 4 to 12 fl oz/100 gal water. Group 3 fungicide. 12-hr reentry.
Note Do not use Insignia or Pageant on Euonymus vegetus as injury may occur.
References Nursery and Landscape Pest Management and Production Guide, 2008 Edition. BC Ministry of Ag. and Lands and BC Landscape and Nursery Association.
Boyer, C.R., Cole, J.C., and Conway, K.E. 2007. Effectiveness of copper sulfate pentahydrate, mancozeb, and hydrogen dioxide in controlling anthracnose on wintercreeper euonymus. J. Environ. Hort. 25:21-26.