Resistance has kept the disease under control but it is widespread. 11-53 Overwinter as conidia and mycelium in plant debris. Control by resistance and sanitation, rotation and proper break down of plant debris. The fungi do not survive well in intimate contact with soil. Major disease of apples and pears and forest hardwoods.
Cankers girdle the tree and can kill saplings while lopping branches off older trees.
These are necrotrophic and enter through wounds and bud scars. The spores are dispersed by rain and insects. Typified by callus growth and target shaped cankers. Ascospores are abundant in late fall. There are many anthracnose fungi but the most common and important is Colletotrichum anamorph of Glomerella .