Botryosphaeria. It requires an injury to enter (apparently) and
a wound from removing a branch or twig -- or even severe
bendings -- seems to be enough.

Botryosphaeria is one of the common canker-causing fungi. It is not a vascular disease- it can only spread externally through wounds, although an existing canker will expand and eventually girdle the branch. It is more severe on stressed plants. There's
nothing to do except excise the canker, and if a bonsai is permanently marred by doing that, well, it's off to the compost pile.

If you are having a big problem with it in Florida, it must be due to some weather condition: drought? Hail? that is exacerbating it.

Nina

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