Infected leaves are usually reduced in size, and some may die. Young shoots and berries may develop elongated, scabby-looking lesions that have a very distinct, purplish margin, Severely infected fruit are usually deformed. Spot anthracnose on dogwood leaves. The causative organism of Spot anthracnose is the fungus, Elsinoe corni. The fungus persists from year to year in infected twigs, fruit, and other infected tissues.
Infection occurs on the flower bracts the following spring.
If the weather is dry prior to and during the flowering period, very little disease occurs. Therefore infections will vary from year to year. Infection sites appear as small, uniform, purplish-colored spots or lesions on leaves. The centers of these spots become grayish in color, but these lesions do retain the deep purple border. The 'shot hole' effect as seen with the Spot anthracnose rarely occurs.