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Originally Posted by clrosner
Joanie:
I can only think of one reason the cutting would cause a branch to wither and die, (although there may be more). The scissors might have had a contaminent or a disease.  |
If this is so, does anyone know what disease can be transmitted by cutting tools to the plants in the serissa family?
I am not familiar with serissa trees or with the diseases that can affect them, and I am unable to find any link in the web that gives information on the subject.
However, the dark brown area of the trunk at the base and the dieback of branches, certainly looks like an infection caused by a fungus or bacterium. If possible, Coldsmith should carry his tree at a plant pathology laboratory for isolation of the pathogen and its identification. This could probably be done by consulting the agricultural services available in his area.