When left to develop unchecked, anthracnose can significantly reduce overall yields as well as limit the longevity of bramble plantings. Symptoms Anthracnose can be present on both current and second-year canes. Later, these spots enlarge, become sunken, and develop a purplish border with a light gray center.
Spots often grow together to form large cankers, especially on older canes.
Severely infected canes may be girdled or cracked, thus reducing the supply of water and mineral nutrients to the top. The anthracnose fungus can also cause similar symptoms to on the leaves. Leaf spots are at first yellowish, turning to a distinct light gray with a red-purple border. Only rarely does foliar anthracnose result in significant defoliation. Cane blight and spur blight, two other potentially serious raspberry diseases, are also caused by fungi which can produce cane cankers like anthracnose.