Massaria Disease (Splanchnonema platani) is a perplexing fungal canker of London Plane trees common throughout Western Europe. It has been implicated in numerous limb fractures in urban areas throughout the U.K. since 2009.
Forest Research are working to isolate spores and to create a strategy for dealing with this disease
This canker normally develops on the upper side of lateral limbs in the upper canopy of affected trees. Consequently it is almost impossible for arboriculturalists to spot during scheduled inspections. In lieu of expensive and time consuming aerial inspection, drones are being used to assist in inspecting trees in high target areas of many cities.
