Causal Agent

A mycoplasma-like organism 

 

Hosts

Pecans. 

 

Symptoms

The characteristic symptom of bunch disease is bushy growths of slender willowy shoots, resulting from an abnormal forcing of lateral buds. Symptoms may appear on only one branch or on many branches. Bunch disease is very conspicuous in the spring and early summer because the diseased shoots leaf out earlier than non infected shoots. It is believed that the pathogen is insect transmitted, probably by leaf hoppers. 

 

Control

Severely infected trees should be destroyed. If only a few branches are infected, they should be removed much beyond the infected area. Some varieties are more resistant than others and they may be successfully topworked onto susceptible trees. Please contact your local county extension office for current information.