poor pruning leading to rot...

further evidence on the branch behind ...

it looks like there was a prior improper prune.. and then more recently it was cut flush.. thru already rotted material ... meaning this happened long ago ...

i am not familiar with this plant.. but would wonder if you can do rejuvenation type pruning near ground level ...

ken

Ken, you probably are and just don't recognize it by that name. Frangipanis are plumerias. And, BTW, there is a Plumeria Forum here on GW that might provide further answers.

I'm not sure what the cause of this is. It could be pathogen related and introduced by poor pruning sanitation, or, it could just be dead stubs and damaged branch collars resulting from improper pruning. Seeing more of the tree (like what's happening above the area in the foreground of the picture / are we looking at another stub or a dying limb?) might shed more light on the problem.

In any case, these areas need to be completely removed down to undamaged/sound wood. Left as-is, the rot will just continue and spread.

Looks like some kind of canker process to me, and yes, pruning cuts can lead to such. Even well-made cuts, on the wrong species during the wrong weather events, can lead to such things.

In my world, the best example would be thyronectria canker on honeylocust pruned when wet.

+oM