Cherry Coccomycosis

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

Cherry coccomycosis came to us from Scandinavia. This dangerous fungal disease is so harmful that it has not yet been possible to develop varieties that are completely resistant to it. Coccomycosis is not terrible only for felt cherry, as well as a number of cherry and bird cherry hybrids. In addition to cherry leaves, the harmful disease also affects fruits. Yellowed infected leaves gradually turn yellow and fall off. The winter hardiness of cherry trees is markedly reduced, and the trees themselves often die. To avoid such sad consequences, this scourge must be dealt with

A few words about the disease

When infected with coccomycosis, the harmful fungus primarily attacks cherry leaves, manifesting itself on them in the form of reddish-brownish dots, gradually turning into specks. And on the undersides of the leaves it will not be difficult to find mushroom spores in the form of a whitish-pinkish bloom. Some time after infection, the leaves begin to crumble, and the cherry becomes completely unprepared for the coming winter frosts. And after a few seasons, the trees weaken so much that in one of the frosty winters, in most cases, they die.

Sometimes coccomycosis of cherries also affects vulnerable juicy fruits, which quickly deform and turn into completely unsuitable for human consumption. By the way, fruits are mainly affected on trees of late varieties.

The causative agent of the ill-fated coccomycosis overwinters in fallen leaves in the form of mycelium - fallen and diseased leaves are the best refuge for the harmful fungus. And in the spring, as soon as flowering begins, mushroom spores are instantly activated. Excessive rainfall contributes to the massive spread of this harmful scourge in the summer.

How to fight

Since the pathogen overwinters mainly in fallen leaves, all plant debris should be eliminated from under the trees as a priority. They are either burned or buried in the soil by at least a centimeter. Moreover, this must be done in all areas where cherries are cultivated, since with the help of air the causative agent of coccomycosis is able to overcome great distances. And in the fall and spring, it is necessary to thoroughly dig up the soil.

Unfortunately, there are currently no cherry varieties that are completely resistant to coccomycosis, but there are relatively tolerant varieties that you should definitely pay attention to and give them preference when planting cherry trees. These varieties include Pamyati Vavilov, Dessertnaya Morozova, Malinovka and Nord Star.

With the onset of spring, the first spraying is carried out with a 3% Bordeaux liquid. It is usually carried out along the blossoming leaves. Bordeaux liquid, in case of its absence, may be replaced by "Tsinebom". The second treatment is carried out already with copper chloride (0.4%) immediately after the cherry flowers fall off. Also, for the second treatment, the preparation "Skor" or the solution of the preparation "Topsin-M" (0.1%) are suitable. And for the third spraying, both copper oxychloride (0.4%) and one percent Bordeaux liquid are equally well suited. The best time for the third treatment is after the harvest of juicy berries has been harvested. By the way, the preparation "Skor" is allowed to process cherries and additionally - this is done, as a rule, before its flowering.

As for young trees that have not yet begun to bear fruit, it is recommended to process them every two to three weeks, depending on the degree of development of the misfortune.

Also, for preventive purposes, trees are whitewashed with a mixture of lime with iron or copper sulfate. Such a whitewashing is carried out with the onset of autumn, after the leaf fall ends. The benefit of such a whitewashing lies not only in the fact that it will destroy the spores of the pathogen fungus stuck in numerous cracks in the tree bark, but also in that it will protect the trees from extremely undesirable frost cracks.