Why canker stain could end plane trees' amenity benefits: Local authorities could find it too expensive to manage plane trees in the event of this aggressive fungal disease reaching the UK, Sally Drury warns

Plane trees, especially the London plane (Platanus × acerifolia, also known as Platanus x hispanica) are a common sight in British towns and cities. Growing alongside streets and roads, forming avenues and gracing our parks, plane trees are valued amenity assets. They provide shade and cool the air while being tolerant of pollution and water shortages. Canker stain of plane, also called plane wilt, could have a devastating effect on our urban areas, killing the trees completely within two-to-five years from infection.

Canker stain of plane (Ceratocystis platani) is a serious, aggressive fungal disease that can affect several species in the Platanus genus. Formerly called C. platani f. platani or C. fimbriata s. sp. platani, this ascomycete fungus is not currently in the UK but is notifiable. Origin and distribution Believed to originate from eastern USA, canker stain of plane has spread to western states and is now in several European countries. It was first found in Marseille, France, in 1945 and is thought to have been transported there by US troops during Operation Dragoon towards the end of World War Two. The fungus is also present in most...