canker

/kang"keuhr/, n.

1. a gangrenous or ulcerous sore, esp. in the mouth.

2. a disease affecting horses' feet, usually the soles, characterized by a foul-smelling exudate.

3. a defined area of diseased tissue, esp. in woody stems.

4. something that corrodes, corrupts, destroys, or irritates.

5. Also called canker rose. Brit. Dial. See dog rose.

v.t.

6. to infect with canker.

7. to corrupt; destroy slowly.

v.i.

8. to become infected with or as if with canker.

[bef. 1000; ME; OE cancer < L cancer; see CANCER]

Syn. 4. blight, cancer, scourge.

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▪ disease

      disease of plants that is caused by numerous species of fungi and bacteria. Symptoms include round-to-irregular, sunken, swollen, flattened, or cracked, discoloured, and dead areas on the stem (cane), twig, limb, or trunk. Cankers may enlarge and girdle a twig or branch, killing the foliage beyond it. They are most common on plants weakened by mechanical, winter, or insect injury; drought; nutritional imbalances; nematodes; and root rot.

      Control includes removing diseased parts in dry weather; growing adapted or resistant varieties in warm, well-drained, fertile soil; avoiding overcrowding, overwatering, and mechanical wounds; treating bark and wood injuries promptly; controlling insect and rodent disease carriers; wrapping young trees to prevent sunscald; and keeping plants vigorous by the use of fertilizers.

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