Diseases Of The Plum. Part 1

2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38

A very dangerous and serious disease of the plum will be the so-called monilial burn of stone fruits, which is also known as moniliosis. However, gardeners most often call this disease gray rot

For stone fruit crops, this disease is considered one of the most harmful, and by the nature of its spread, the disease can be found literally everywhere in central Russia. The disease is classified as fungal. As you might guess from the name of the disease, it manifests itself in the form of gray rot on the fruits themselves. The first signs of the disease appear immediately after the flowering of the tree. Over time, diseased flowers will change color to brown, and individual branches may suddenly dry out. However, such branches can remain on the tree for a long time, without even dropping their petals. In the event that the disease has spread en masse, then the tree looks like a burnt fire. Actually, for this reason, such a name appeared as a monilial burn. On the diseased inflorescences, subject to wet weather, ash-gray pads will form, which will contain the spores of the fungus.

During the flowering period, the spores of the fungus fall on the stigmas of the flower, germinate and develop into the mycelium. This mycelium will already penetrate the ovary, fruit branch and peduncle. Those shoots that managed to appear on a diseased tree will begin to dry out.

In the summer, the disease will continue to develop on the fruits themselves as gray rot. Fruits will become infected with spores from infected buds and branches. Most often, those fruits that already have mechanical damage or that insects have had time to exert their negative influence are susceptible to infection. In addition, infection can occur with close contact of sick and healthy fetuses. The color of the fruit can be different, it all depends on the color of the skin. However, the flesh will always be brown.

On the fruits at the very beginning of the disease, you can notice a small dark speck, which will grow rather quickly, and over time, the entire fetus will be affected. The ash-gray sporulation pads of the fungus are located in a chaotic manner on the fruits, while the diameter will be slightly more than a millimeter. Sometimes infected fruits can turn dark bluish tones, and purely outwardly, the fruits will look like varnished ones. The vast majority of these completely infected fruits will fall off, but some may remain on the tree even until next spring. Such a mushroom spends winter in already infected branches, dry fruits, shoots and inflorescences. Favorable weather for the development of this disease is considered to be cool, wet weather in the spring, during flowering and in summer.

As for the methods of dealing with such a disease as gray rot, then, first of all, infected fruits, shoots, branches and inflorescences should be carefully selected in spring and autumn. These parts of the plant must be burned. About fifteen to twenty days after the end of flowering, all these affected parts should be cut out. If the line between the infected tissue and healthy tissue is noticeable, then fifteen centimeters of healthy tissue should be cut off.

In addition, throughout the summer season, it is necessary to remove from the site diseased fruits from the plum and those that have fallen to the ground. Very important attention should be paid to combating a number of pests dangerous for plums, because they can become carriers of this disease. Before or after flowering, trees can be sprayed with a special preparation. In the event that the disease develops en masse, then when leaf fall begins, it will be necessary to spray with a three percent Bordeaux liquid.

Continued - Part 2.