I just read your article on the so-called mystery illness affecting Saguaros.

I have been a resident of  Arizona since 1946 (with five in another state) and have seen some of this before.

During the early ’50s there was a die-off of Saguaros and the powers that be were busy rushing around giving the poor things a “shot” of anti-viral meds. Don't know if it actually worked, but do remember it being touted as the saving of the plants.

However, for some reason there is a fungus, mold, whatever you want to call it, in the soil here. I’ve found large chunks of white mold in the soil and eradicated it with a dose of bleach.

And now, living in Sun City West, I have seen a Saguaro literally blow its top, emitting a black gooey substance and the remainder of the plant dying. Shortly after, a tangerine tree close to the Saguaro and a couple of other plants died similar deaths.

This could indicate a soil problem throughout the Valley. I’ve done some research and found Aspergillus niger mold to be abundant; could this be our “bad guy?”

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