What is on this chestnut oak?

[Arborspective]

It is a solid black charcoal like color attacking the cambium layer and has pushed the bark off in areas that it is visible. Please help with identifying what this is..

 

[JD3000]

Hypoxylon or Biscogniauxia would be my guesses.

Tissue is dead or dying.

@KTSmith

 

[Treetopflyer]

Hypoxylon or Biscogniauxia would be my guesses.

Tissue is dead or dying.

@KTSmith

I'd second that emotion

 

[Arborspective]

Hypoxylon or Biscogniauxia would be my guesses.

Tissue is dead or dying.

@KTSmith

Thank you. I was thinking hypoxylon but when i see it typically looks more grayish and kinda dusty feel to it. How does it affect the trees characteristics in ots reaction wood? It seemed really brittle, dry, and absolutly no bendable fibers.

 

[KTSmith]

I'd also have to go with Biscogniauxia. Looks to be pretty much classic "Hypoxylon canker", as I was first taught the name. The pictures clearly show the black carbonaceous stromata which contain the flask-shaped perithecia or sexual fruiting structures. Seasonally, a dusty grey and patchy coating of asexual spores are borne on the stromata, so yes Arborspective, that sounds about right.

 

[KTSmith]

I know, I should leave well enough alone. But in the interest of trying to be helpful, Diatrype stigma fits those images as well. Same family (Xylariaceae) but distinctly different...at least distinctly different under the microscope.

 

[oldoakman]

Has a pretty good dose of it too.