Moniliosis In Apples

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

In the last months of summer and at the beginning of the fall season, apple trees produce the highest harvest rates. But all this is possible only with proper care and the absence of diseases in fruit trees. Often, gardeners are faced with such a problem as rotting fruit directly on the tree. In fact, this phenomenon is referred to as moniliosis. Fungal disease causes monilial burn of the fetus. Of course, such a situation can be prevented and negative consequences avoided

Description of the disease

Moniliosis (or fruit rot) is a fungal disease that damages an apple tree. The problem is often observed on other fruit trees (cherry, plum, and others). Disorders in plant development are caused precisely by the fungi Monilinia fructigena and Monilinia laxa. The formation of the disease can be prevented even at the flowering stage in apple crops. At this point, moniliosis damages the leaves and flowers, and also shows rot on them. But the problem becomes especially visible already at the harvest stage. The fruits start to rot right on the tree.

Causes of the disease

If the spring was too wet, then the manifestation of moniliosis on the fruit tree is quite expected. Excessive rainfall becomes the most pronounced cause of the formation of harmful fungi on the tree. In dry weather, moniliosis is much less common. Fruit rot begins precisely from the damaged areas. Through the smallest holes, fungi penetrate into the apples and begin to act from the inside of the fruit.

How to define moniliosis?

First of all, rotting of flowers testifies to the manifestation of moniliosis on fruit trees. The leaves and inflorescences themselves turn brown and withered. In addition, fruit rot is also a sign of moniliosis. If apples or other fruits have yellow or brownish spots on the skin, then in most cases this fungal disease manifests itself in this way. Such manifestations are also called monilial burn. Apples in such a situation rot right on the trees. Often they dry out completely or fall off the branches. It is best to remove such fruits immediately upon first observation.

Taking action for apple moniliosis

All fruit trees should be regularly examined for the presence of monilious disease and its manifestations. For this, special checks should be carried out. If signs of damage are noticed during flowering, then you need to destroy whole branches that have been damaged by the disease. Naturally, all leaves and flowers with monilial burns must be removed. Also, if apples affected by moniliosis were noticed, then the fruits from the trees must be torn off. Apples and leaves with moniliosis should also be removed from the ground. Rotten items are destroyed completely.

At the end of the summer season, the remaining fruits should be removed from each fruit tree. For preventive measures against moniliosis, it is necessary to install specialized protective nets from the invasion of birds. Apple trees and other similar plants should only be watered in dry weather. In no case should you put apple-tree fruits, flowers and leaves damaged by moniliosis in compost pits. It is best to remove the elements from the site and incinerate them. Some gardeners bury monilious apples and leaves in the soil to a depth of more than fifty centimeters.

Do not form too dense and large crown on the apple tree. This will be helped by seasonal tree pruning, which is carried out in the autumn and spring periods of the year. Fruits at these moments should be thinned out. There are some apple varieties that are resistant to moniliosis. These are the President, Simirenko, Ontario and others. In addition, you need to constantly feed the apple trees. For example, in the springtime, you should feed it with a general fertilizer. At the time of bud formation, it is necessary to give preference to potassium-based preparations.

In no case should you store apples with fruit rot with the rest of the fruits harvested at the end of the summer season. Moniliosis can simply shift to completely healthy fruits. Modern chemicals cannot be called effective measures in the fight against fungal disease. But you can use products to eliminate scab, because it is through it that moniliosis often gets into the fruits. Antifungal agents are required to be used in early spring, before the apple tree has bloomed.