Canker and anthracnose are general terms for a large number of different plant diseases, characterised by broadly similar symptoms including the appearance of small areas of dead tissue, which grow slowly, often over a period of years. Some are of only minor consequence, but others are ultimately lethal, and of major economic importance in agriculture and horticulture. Different cankers and anthracnoses are caused by a wide range of organisms, including fungi, bacteria, mycoplasmas and viruses. The majority of canker-causing organisms are tied obligately to a single host species or genus, but a few will attack a wider range of plants. Canker can be spread by weather and animals, making an area that even has a slight amount of canker hazardous.

Beim Baumkrebs oder Obstbaumkrebs handelt es sich, anders als der Name vermuten lässt, nicht um Krebs (unkontrolliertes Wachstum von Zellen) sondern um eine Pilzinfektion von Rinde und Holz.

Les chancres (ou cancer de l'arbre) sont des maladies de l'arbre causées par des champignons (maladies cryptogamiques) ou des bactéries.