Pink Disease

The disease is spreaded by wind-borne spores (Corticium salmonicolor) that causes the existence of a pink fungus attached to the branches and trunks of Aquilaria tree. Pink disease often occur in areas that receive high amounts of rain water or during rainy season. However, the spreading of the disease is also dependent on the healthy of trees and environmental conditions.

Pink thin crust and cracks on the bark of 2-years old Aquilaria tree

Some of signs and symptoms that can be seen on effected tree:

• Wilt and dieback on infected trunk, branches and broken branches during strong winds
• The formation of elongated cracks on the trunk surface
• The existence of epicormics shoot under the branches / die branch

**dieback is the condition where the tree start to die from the tips of its leaves or any part to the roots (root backward) that caused by disease or unfavourable environment

Ways to control and prevent the disease:

• Spraying or putting the infected part of the tree with chemical such as Copper oxide, Copper oxychloride, copper hydroxide, triadimefen, tridemorph (calixin), oxycarboxin and other systemic fungicide are practical.
• For long term strategy, plant the trees that are resistant to the disease

Source :  Forest Research Institut Malaysia (FRIM)