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Plant Diseases page.
You Can Help
Thousand cankers disease poses a serious threat to the health of black walnut trees, which are economically important for their nuts and lumber.
The Kansas Department of Agriculture, Kansas Forest Service and Kansas State University Research & Extension need your aid to help stop the introduction and to limit the spread of this disease in Kansas. We are deeply concerned that if it reaches the native range of black walnuts in central and eastern Kansas, we may lose this tree in our urban and native forests.
Currently, the disease is known to exist in the nearby states of Colorado and New Mexico. Colorado scientists believe that the disease was brought into its urban areas by moving infected wood either as firewood or for woodworking. Wood, bark, and chips with beetles and cankers are highly contagious and should not be moved off a site for three years. Do not bring in walnut wood from out-of-state sources. You can read more about firewood safety on our site or at
Don’t Move Firewood.
Thousand Cankers Disease of walnut is a progressive disease that kills a tree within two to three years after initial infection. Trees early in the disease cycle will initially show signs of decline with symptoms of yellowing and thinning. Advanced symptoms are falling branches with leaves still attached. The tell-tale signs of the disease manifests as numerous blank cankers about the size of a dime just under the bark. Access more detailed information on the disease from
Colorado State University here.
Additional Info