Why Do Apples Rot On The Branches? Moniliosis - Signs, Prevention And Treatment. Photo

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Why Do Apples Rot On The Branches? Moniliosis - Signs, Prevention And Treatment. Photo
Why Do Apples Rot On The Branches? Moniliosis - Signs, Prevention And Treatment. Photo

Video: Why Do Apples Rot On The Branches? Moniliosis - Signs, Prevention And Treatment. Photo

Video: Why Do Apples Rot On The Branches? Moniliosis - Signs, Prevention And Treatment. Photo
Video: Apple Tree Diseases – Family Plot 2024, March
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Having planted young seedlings of apple trees, many gardeners tirelessly take care of them, and after waiting for stable yields, they weaken their attention. They forgot to do something, didn't manage to do something, and now the first problems appear. One of these is fruits rotting on a tree. It is already impossible not to notice this, and natural questions arise - what is it and how to deal with it? Why apples rot on branches and how to prevent this trouble, we will tell in the article.

Why do apples rot on the branches?
Why do apples rot on the branches?

Content:

  • Moniliosis - what kind of disease and where does it come from?
  • How to protect the crop from fruit rot?
  • Prevention of moniliosis
  • Moniliosis treatment

Moniliosis - what kind of disease and where does it come from?

The main reason for the appearance of rotting apples on a tree is moniliosis. This is a fungal disease, various types of which affect fruit, stone fruit and even ornamental plants. Spores spread quickly through the garden and infect fruits, shoots and leaves of various crops.

As for apple trees, the disease most often occurs on mature trees with a thickened crown. Fungal spores enter fruits with gusts of wind or are carried by birds and insect pests. This usually happens in the middle of summer - it is at this time that the first rotting fruits can be found. This form of moniliosis is called fruit rot.

Warm and humid weather contributes to the rapid spread of the disease, and if countermeasures are not taken in time, a significant part of the crop will be lost.

It has been noticed that most often fruit rot affects summer varieties of apples with a thin skin. In addition, fruits with damaged peels are in the zone of particular risk - these can be various, even microscopic cracks or punctures from pests, as well as traumatic injuries from hail or branches in strong winds.

Moniliosis is characterized by the presence of an incubation period that lasts 5 days. Only after this period of time will the first signs of the disease appear on the apple tree, which are easy to detect. A brown spot can be seen on the apple, which quickly grows and covers the entire fruit. After another 5 days, the disease will pass into the sporulation phase, and each damaged apple will pose a danger to everyone else, including the tree.

On closer inspection, small gray bumps can be seen on the surface of the spot - these are fungal spores. By the wind and birds, these spores are transferred to neighboring fruits, and in a few weeks healthy apples can be counted on one hand.

Spores of moniliosis can easily withstand frosty winters, and if the fruits affected by the fungus lie under the apple tree until spring, then it will be possible to get acquainted with another form of this disease, monilial burn. In spring, on diseased apple trees, you can see dried shoots, flowers, ovaries and like burnt leaves.

Small gray bumps are fungal spores
Small gray bumps are fungal spores

How to protect the crop from fruit rot?

The appearance of moniliosis on apple trees does not promise the gardener a carefree summer. It will not be possible to defeat this disease with a couple of sprays, since such an effective drug has not yet been invented. Therefore, it is better to immediately tune in to a serious long-term struggle, and first try to save this year's harvest.

First of all, carefully examine the whole tree and carefully collect the affected and suspicious fruits. Such examinations and removal of damaged fruits should be carried out not from time to time, but regularly and as often as possible.

Just in case, let us clarify that such apples cannot be put into compost - only burn them. If at least 20 days remain before harvesting, it is advisable to spray the apple tree with a solution of the Abiga-Peak fungicide. Also, for the treatment of fruit rot, a solution of Bordeaux liquid or preparations of a similar composition and action - "Oxyhom", "Polychom" and others, are used.

In the event that the disease is detected immediately before harvesting, the apple tree can be treated with the biological product "Pentafag-S". The action of the drug is based on the destruction of phytopathogen cells by bacterial viruses. Biologically active substances "Pentafaga-S" inhibit the development of pathogenic fungi, cause the multiplication of antagonistic microorganisms and increase plant resistance to fungal and bacterial diseases.

Prevention of moniliosis

It is no secret that diseases and pests primarily affect sick and weakened trees. Powdery mildew and scab at first glance seem to be minor diseases, but damaged fruits can subsequently suffer from fruit rot.

It is the same with insect pests - the slogan “there should be enough food for everyone in a good garden” does not work here. Wasps, leafworms and moths, of course, will not eat all the apples, but they "bite", and this is enough to make Moniliosis feel at home. Therefore, among the preventive measures, the main place is occupied by the correct care of the orchard.

Its main components:

  • regular inspections of the garden;
  • timely feeding and watering;
  • disease and pest control;
  • the use of drugs to increase immunity;
  • preventive treatments with fungicides and insecticides;
  • competent formative pruning, which does not allow the crown to thicken;
  • spring and autumn sanitary cuttings;
  • keeping the trunk circles clean.

Supporters of natural farming use special biocomplexes to increase plant immunity. They help plants to cope with attacks of pests and various diseases on their own, and to endure climatic surprises in the form of heat, cold, drought and lingering rains. In addition, the use of biocomplexes in plants reduces stress from the use of various pesticides and chemicals.

Particular attention should be paid to preventive measures for owners of old orchards and those who have abandoned orchards in the neighborhood.

If moniliosis was noticed on the apple tree, spraying with bio-fungicides can be carried out at least twenty days before harvest
If moniliosis was noticed on the apple tree, spraying with bio-fungicides can be carried out at least twenty days before harvest

Moniliosis treatment

They begin to fight moniliosis in early spring. During the growing season, the tree is sprayed with fungicides several times. The frequency of treatments and consumption rates depend on the selected drug. Manufacturers write about this in detail in the instructions.

For example, apple trees are sprayed with the Abiga-Peak solution 4 times per season, starting from the phase “before budding”. This drug is effective even at low air temperatures and, what is important, forms immunity in plants against fungal diseases.

To treat apple trees with everyone's favorite Bordeaux mixture, a 3% solution is prepared in the "before bud break" phase, then, along the "green cone" and further, a 1% solution is used. This drug can be used 6 times per season.

When spraying trees, it is important to treat the trunks, branches and tree circles well. The last processing must be done in the fall. Previously, the apple tree needs to be cleaned of the remaining fruits, leaves, dry and damaged branches, remove all debris from the trunk circle - all into the fire.

Dear Readers! Moniliosis is an unpleasant but not fatal disease of fruit trees. As with other fungal diseases, preventive measures can significantly reduce the risk of fungal growth. If, in spite of everything, trouble happened, and the apple trees were infected, perseverance and perseverance will help defeat this disease.

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