An Ahwatukee friend's large 5-6 year old Brown Turkey has shown odd depressions on the bark for a long time almost like the bark is eaten away halfway up the tree. Top of the tree is still alive with plenty of figs produced, but the branches are getting dwarved and showing weird warty growth on the bark. We're thinking if trimming the top of the tree off this winter, just leaving the healthy appearing lower part of the tree. Photos here from this past Sunday.

There are 4 very healthy 2-3 inch diameter branches coming out about 20 inches below the missing bark and we think we'll cut back to there in the next 4 weeks. If there is a disease that causes the sunken bark, would be good to know so we are more careful. We even thought roof rats might be eating the bark when we first noticed the damaged bark 3 years ago, but she has citrus trees with tons of fruit and no eating....so why would rats eat bark.

She gets some frost, but is on the slopes in Ahwatukee and doesn't usually see a hard freeze. Nearby Limes, Lemons planted the same year are healthy with only occasional freeze damage.