The wood of a recently killed branch is lighter brown than the pith .
Dead bark falls off the cankered area .
Leaves on affected branches wilt as affected branches die. Chocolate-brown cankers enlarge along the branch more quickly than around its circumference. Tiny black fungal fruiting structures that pepper the dead bark are most easily seen on the light tan colored bark. Botryosphaeria dothidea Irrigate plants to prevent drought stress which predisposes the plants to this canker. Prune infected branches, cutting back to where growth will resume.