Type: report

Article abstract: In 2021, Opuntia littoralis (Coastal prickly-pear) plants at a restoration nursery in San Diego County were observed with circular yellow, red, and gray dry lesions surrounding their spines. In 2022, further field surveys across 10 restoration sites in San Diego County showed affected plants with similar decay symptoms, at 5-25% prevalence. Cacti decay observed in restoration nurseries and in native habitats created concern about pathogen introductions into ecosystems that support coastal cactus wrens (a species of concern in CA).