There is no control or treatment for slime flux. Slime flux is extremely common on mature elms (fig 2), oak (fig 3) and mulberry and is seen less frequently on maples (fig 4), paper birch, sycamore, and walnut. Slime flux may delay wound healing (callus formation). Airborne bacteria, yeasts, and fungi often colonize the wet oozing material, which ferments and releases a foul odor. Oozing sap may be frothy and white at the point of exit. The dark streaks usually turn light gray or white upon drying. The main symptom is the appearance of the dark sap oozing on the trunk exterior which happens when gasses produced by growth of the bacteria and yeast cause the internal pressure of the sap to become high enough to force the sap out through cracks in the bark. The bacteria and yeast may live on sap nutrients within injured trees for many years without any outward evidence. Slime flux is caused by common surface-inhabiting bacteria or yeast fungi that enter the trunk through wounds associated with improper pruning, stem breakage, injections, cracks from freeze injury or weak limb crotches. The disease is not usually a serious problem but the appearance can be alarming.
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