Strange bush disease I can't find anywhere on internet????

A couple of years ago, I noticed an odd transformation of my privet hedges in the front of my house in north Florida. It began with stunted new growth, developed into "crumbly cancher" like growths, proceded to move from one end of the row to the other, slowly kiiling them on the way.

I don't despise privet, but it is so common here, I did not loose any sleep when I had to cut a row of them down and replace them with something more attractive.

In the spring, I planted a rose bush, some ixora, and pittosporum in it's place, thinking that whatever the disease was was specific to that plant.

I have included pics of the original privet. The rose bush, and the ixora are showing symtoms of the same strange growth pattern.

Please help: I can not find any information on the web and stumbled on this site.

Thank you!

Here is another pic.

You've got a gall of some kind. They can be caused by insects or disease. Not sure which yours is. But here are some things for comparison.


http://www.ipmimages.org/browse/detail.cfm?imgnum=5224028
http://www.forestryimages.org/browse/subthumb.cfm?sub=532

Poplar Bug Gall Mite
http://utahpests.usu.edu/uppdl/images/uploads/Eriophyidae%20Poplar%20Budgall%20Mite%20Whitney%20Cranshaw%20CSU%20Bugwood.jpg

I found these with the search term "ligustrum galls" if you want to google more.

Mr. HydroPinke, I sincerely appreciate your input. I had wondered about crown gall, but all of the pictures/descriptions I found on the internet showed/discussed the roots and lower stems. However, when I dug up the roots, they were unaffected, and above ground it affected the upper stems, particularly the new growth, "retarding" it so that each new leaf was smaller and smaller.
However, with your input and links to info, I agree that is some form of this plant "cancer". Facinating organism, but I have to get rid of it!
Just in case anyone is interested, I found this article on it: http://arabidopsis.info/students/agrobacterium/index.html. And this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crown_Gall.

The ariticle described it as " ubiquitous",so I hope no one else has o deal with it!

This message was edited Oct 14, 2011 1:17 AM

If it's just out on the branches and you're not seeing it near the base of the plant then I really doubt if it's crown gall. It gets its name because it occurs at the crown of the plant--it can also occur out farther on the branches but I think it's unlikely that it would only be out on the branches and not near the crown. Seems to me it's more likely to be one of the other numerous types of galls if it's only out on the branches.

A gall is a tumor formed by a plant due to an irritation from an insect or a disease. You can remove a gall, slice it open and see the irritant. The physical structure of a gall is not as geometric looking as the growths in the picture.

This looks more like scale which is a "nest" created by a female insect to house her maturing eggs. The shape of these suggest Florida Red Scale.

Because scale readication if fairy challenging I suggest you call the county Extension office or look at internet/phone book for your County Extension Office. Once you find it, bring them a sample. There are hortuculture agents and trained Master Gardeners there who will positively ID the problem and give you the solution. This is a free service through a federal land grant program. Well worth linking up with them.

well, i have to disagree with the scale theory. it doesn't look like any scale i've ever seen in florida....not that i've seen them all but scale is not a "nest". scale is the insect. they may look like a nest of sorts when they all pile up on each other. i had to really study the pictures but it just doesn't look like scale.

I agree, doesn't look like scale to me either. I even googled for pics of Florida red scale in case it looks a lot different from the scale I know and wasn't able to find any pics that look like this http://www.google.com/search?tbm=isch&hl=en&source=hp&biw=1435&bih=672&q=florida+red+scale&gbv=2&oq=florida+red+scale&aq=f&aqi=g1&aql=&gs_sm=e&gs_upl=696l3088l0l3216l17l15l0l3l3l0l213l1451l5.6.1l12l0

Hi Roknlive,

This has really peaked my curiosity. Would you please send me a sample?
A branch from each type of plant where this has shown up would be great. The branch only needs to contain 2-3 clusters of these odd growths. Just send through the mail. I think wrapped in newspaper and in an envelope would work.

I have access to several degreed horticulturists as well as a horticulture research facility.

If you can send to: OSU Extension - Geauga County
Attn: Phyllis Mihalik
P.O. Box 387
Burton, OH 44021

Thanks,

Phyllis

Looks like witches broom. Basically caused by stress due to an insect. See this:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/trees/tgen/witches-broom-disease.htm

This message was edited Oct 15, 2019 2:50 PM