Is this apple branch diseased / cankered?

[Joeka101]

Hi all,

I have a 2yr old Red Windsor apple tree on M26 rootstock growing in Sheffield in semi heavy soil whih is occasionally a bit waterlogged. Generally doing well but I noticed this swollen and split area of branch while pruning. Ive read lots but cant find amy photos of early stages of canker etc. Any idea what this is or just normal? Ive been sealing all prunes with Arbrex and have been using bordeaux mixture.

Many thanks for any help,

Joe

[Paulieb]

Hi and welcome to the vine.

I'd say it seems the from that Pic. Looks more like just some physical damage that is starting to heal.

Apple canker tends to start with a cracking bark with a brown tinge and this looks pretty smooth and the same as the rest of the branch.

Although canker is more prevelant on wet soils so that won't help.

Also if you post your location at the top people can give you more detailed info depending on your location in the UK. For example canker is more of an issue in the west of the country.

[Joeka101]

Hi and welcome to the vine.

I'd say it seems the from that Pic. Looks more like just some physical damage that is starting to heal.

Apple canker tends to start with a cracking bark with a brown tinge and this looks pretty smooth and the same as the rest of the branch.

Although canker is more prevelant on wet soils so that won't help.

Also if you post your location at the top people can give you more detailed info depending on your location in the UK. For example canker is more of an issue in the west of the country.

Wow quick reply! Im in Sheffield. Im colourblind too which makes spotting these issues a nightmare. Ill keep an eye on it for now then. Cheers!

[yummersetter]

You say swollen. Is the wood of the branch bulging through the bark opening? The bark itself looks injured rather than diseased.

[Joeka101]

Yeah, that part of the branch is swollen slightly. Im not desparate to hack it off as its one of the scaffold branches without any others in that direction.

Regards,
Joe

[FB.]

It's not something serious and doesn't need any action.

It could well be a few-years-old scar from one of the less well-known and usually less-serious types of canker.
Those more unusual types of canker usually only grow for one or two seasons before the canker dies to just leave some exposed wood.
Some varieties seem more prone to it than others and it is more common in some soils/climates/locations.

Alternatively it could be from where something has rubbed against it, or a minor injury.