The bacteria can survive in the soil for several years. They enter pecan roots or stems near the soil line through wounds often caused by insects, grafting and cultivation. Galls reduce tree vigor by retarding the flow of water and nutrients in the vascular tissue. The external portions of the galls deteriorate from lack of water and slough off. These tissues often contain the bacteria and reintroduce them into the soil.
Crown gall is controlled through preventive cultural and sanitation practices.
Only healthy, vigorous, disease-free trees should be planted. Take care during transplanting not to wound the roots and trunks. Biological control of crown gall with the antagonistic bacterium A. radiobacter strain K84 can only be used as a preventive measure since roots of healthy trees must be dipped in a solution of the bacterium prior to planting. The cause of shuck dieback and stem end blight is not fully known, but a Phomopsis species has been associated with these diseases. Both diseases kill shuck tissue and reduce nut quality.