We have a long-established hedgerow of lilacs situated around the footprint of where the ancestral farmhouse once stood. This summer we notices that there was leaf die-off and a darkening of the stems and branches. Upon closer examination the woody part of the shrub was not dead. If scratched there was healthy, green matter beneath the bark. Nevertheless, something was stressing the plant as it was pushing-out replacement leaves and flowering. Go figure.
According to the interweb this is likely a form of blight caused by the bacterium Pseudomonas syringae. Among other things, it is characterized by leaf spots that can lead to leaf darkening, leaf wilting and premature leaf dropping.
Fortunately this is mostly a cosmetic condition and unless it reappears over multiple seasons there are no lasting effects. It is associated with wet conditions; which certainly describes our monsoon-like spring.
Because this is not a fungal pathogen spraying with a fungicides is a waste of time. Cleaning-up the leaf debris will prevent transmission next year.
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