2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38
Powdery mildew is usually found on apple trees in early spring, when tiny buds begin to bloom on the trees. Leaves with shoots are affected by this scourge almost simultaneously. The growth of apple trees when affected by powdery mildew slows down or stops altogether, and the leaves slowly fade and, having dried, fall off. Flowers and buds are scattered, and with them the chances of a good harvest are gradually melting. Often, as a result of being hit by this scourge, the yield drops by 40 - 60%
A few words about the disease
On the leaves of an apple tree affected by the ill-fated powdery mildew, an unpleasant bloom of a white or slightly reddish hue appears. It consists of mycelium and numerous fungal spores. At the earliest stages of the disease, it is easily erased, and after some time, such a plaque gradually hardens, becoming much denser.
On apple shoots, plaque gradually acquires brownish or grayish shades and becomes felt. And on top of it, small black dots appear.
Infected shoots are far behind in growth, their leaves curl and die off quickly, the tops dry out, and the ovaries crumble.
As for the fruits, at the very beginning of their formation, the disease manifests itself in the form of a whitish bloom. It disappears rather quickly, leaving after that an unpleasant rusty mesh on the fruits, resembling in structure a rather dense cork tissue that occurs during mechanical damage.
At the very beginning of the development of powdery mildew, the spots on the inflorescences and on the leaves are quite easily removed mechanically, but after a while they reappear, noticeably increasing in size, and also changing their color to purple or saturated gray. And a little later, the mycelium is strongly compacted, staining in brownish tones.
The spread of powdery mildew in the summer season occurs by spores, and the pathogenic mycelium usually hibernates in the affected kidneys.
How to fight
Good care of apple trees in combination with high agricultural technology will significantly increase the resistance of apple trees to powdery mildew. Phosphorus and potash fertilizers will also be good helpers. But if you overdo it with nitrogen fertilizers, then the risk of tree infection increases markedly, especially at the budding stage.
Abundant watering (but not excessive) and constant maintenance of the soil in a moist state also make trees more resilient and stronger.
Growing powdery mildew-resistant apple varieties is also an excellent solution. Among them are Borovinka, Parmen the golden winter, Sarah Sinap, Renet champagne and Reneth of Orleans.
Apple trees against powdery mildew are often and successfully sprayed with sulfur preparations. At the stage of separating the buds, the first spraying is carried out with a 2% solution of colloidal sulfur (ten liters of water will take twenty grams to prepare such a solution of colloidal sulfur). Immediately after flowering, a second spraying is carried out, only with a 1% solution of colloidal sulfur. And fifteen to twenty days later after the second spraying, the third treatment is carried out with a solution of colloidal sulfur (also one percent). It is important to take into account that the last spraying should be carried out no later than twenty days before harvest. If the apple trees are too strongly affected by powdery mildew, 4 - 6 treatments are allowed per season.
Also, for the prevention of harmful powdery mildew and in order to protect against it, three-time treatments with Bordeaux liquid or various fungicides are carried out. You can spray trees with a mixture of soda ash with a small amount of soap, as well as potassium permanganate or copper oxychloride.
A rather effective remedy in the fight against a dangerous ailment is also a drug called "Topaz" - its action is aimed at protecting all organs of the tree from powdery mildew. In addition, this fungicide significantly reduces the harmfulness of secondary infection.
Infected shoots should be promptly removed and destroyed immediately. And when the leaves completely fall off in the fall, it is recommended to carry out an eradicating chemical treatment.
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