Shoestring root rot ("Armillaria mellea") attacks black oak and may kill trees weakened by fire, lightning, drought, insects, or other diseases. A root rot, "Phytophthora cinnamomi", may kill seedlings in the nursery. Cankers caused by "Strumella" and "Nectria" species damage the holes of black oak but seldom kill trees. Foliage diseases that attack black oak are the same as those that typically attack species in the red oak group and include anthracnose ("Gnomonia quercina"), leaf blister ("Taphrina" spp.), powdery mildews ("Phyllactinia corylea" and "Microsphaera alni"), oak-pine rusts ("Cronartium" spp.), and leaf spots ("Actinopelte dryina").