collar blight
Noun: A plant disease, specifically a fungal infection, that attacks and damages the trunk or collar region (the area where the trunk meets the roots) of certain fruit trees, most notably pear and apple trees. It often causes cankers, decay, and can lead to the decline or death of the tree.
This term is used almost exclusively in the fields of arboriculture, horticulture, and plant pathology. It describes a specific agricultural problem. - The orchard was severely impacted by collar blight, leading to the loss of several mature apple trees. - Gardeners should inspect the base of pear trees regularly for signs of collar blight.
- "to be afflicted with collar blight": to be suffering from the disease.
- The young sapling was afflicted with collar blight and had to be removed.
- "collar blight resistance": referring to a tree variety's ability to withstand the disease.
- This new cultivar shows promising collar blight resistance.
- Canker (n): A specific symptom often caused by diseases like collar blight; an area of dead, sunken bark on a stem or trunk.
- Blight (n): A general term for any plant disease that causes withering and death without rotting. "Collar blight" is a specific type of blight.
- Phytophthora (n): A genus of water molds that are common causes of collar rot and blight in many plants.
- Collar rot (This is a very close synonym, often used interchangeably, though "rot" may imply more advanced decay.)
- Trunk canker (This describes a primary symptom rather than the specific disease name.)
- Stem blight (A more general term for blight affecting stems/trunks.)
The word "collar" in this compound term does not refer to clothing. It specifically denotes the collar region of a plant, which is the critical junction at the base of the trunk. The term has no other common meanings outside this specific botanical context.
- a disease affecting the trunks of pear and apple trees