What to do if red spots appear on currant leaves, the best means to combat

Almost every garden grows currants. Gardeners value it for its unpretentiousness and tasty fruits. But even with proper care, the plant is susceptible to some diseases that can cause irreparable harm to the bush. To avoid unpleasant consequences, you should carefully monitor any changes and be able to stop them in a timely manner. Below you will learn in detail what to do if red spots appear on currant leaves.

What diseases provoke red spots on the leaves of black and red currants

Having noticed reddish spots on a berry bush, the first step is to identify the cause. There can be three of them:

• anthracnose;
• aphid;
• rust.

Let's look at each in more detail.

Fungal disease anthracnose: symptoms and cause of appearance

Anthracnose is a fungal disease. It slows down the growth of the plant, reduces its viability, especially during the cold period, significantly reduces fertility and worsens the quality of the crop. Begins to develop in late spring, early summer. The ideal weather is warm and humid. Insects and animals can be carriers of the disease. Rain and wind also spread the spores, and if any damage occurs, anthracnose immediately infects the plant.

Important! Most often, the fungus develops on shrubs that lack potassium and phosphorus, as well as those growing in acidic soil.

The main symptoms of anthracnose are:

• the appearance of small dark red spots with a dark rim, which increase over time, accompanied by swelling;
• shiny black bumps form on the spots;
• infected greens dry out and fall off;
• if the disease has spread to the branches, deep brown ulcers are noticeable on them;
• in advanced cases, the fungus also infects the fruits, covering them with black spots, after which the berries fall off.

Red gall aphid: signs of parasitism

The gall aphid is a parasitic insect, no more than a couple of millimeters in size. Due to its amazing fertility, it causes irreparable damage to the plant.It begins its attack from young shoots in the nascent stage, so new leaves appear already deformed and incapable of active growth and regeneration. Because of this, the condition of the bush worsens the next year.

The insect settles on the inside of the leaf and feeds on its juices, which is why reddish, dense, swollen growths - galls - appear on the greenery. This is how the bush tries to heal itself. Generations of aphids live on the plant until it finally dries out. But even after this, the aphid does not fly far - it settles on the nearest weed.

Important! Aphids attract ants, which, in turn, also feed on the juices of the leaves. In addition, the pest is a carrier of dangerous diseases, and in addition to currants, it can attack other garden crops.

Rust: how does it manifest itself and why is it dangerous?

Another reason for the appearance of red spots on currants is frost-resistant fungal rust. Carriers are sedge and coniferous trees. The wind instantly spreads the fungal spores. It is almost impossible to notice rust in the early stages. It begins to show itself in the spring.

There are two types of rust:

• goblet-shaped. Bright yellow convex pads appear on the back of the leaf, which subsequently join together and turn red. Unripe berries and ovaries are affected;
• columnar. Covers the outside of the leaf with yellow spots. Dots with spores resembling hairs appear on the inside.

The consequences of the fungus are sad - during the disease the bush loses a quarter of its leaves, and by autumn it becomes completely bald. Currants do not produce new shoots or harvest, and die in winter.

Important! If treatment is delayed, the disease can spread to other plants.

How to treat currant bushes

Having discovered that the currant leaves are turning red and having identified the cause, it is necessary to begin immediate treatment.

Methods to combat fungus

Before proceeding with chemical treatment, a number of agrotechnical measures should be carried out to destroy fungal spores:

• collect all fallen leaves and burn. Do this as far from the garden as possible so that the disease does not affect other plants;
• destroy all weeds around the currant bushes;
• loosen and dig up the soil at least 5 centimeters;
• carry out timely pruning;
• drain planting holes.

After taking the measures, it is necessary to proceed directly to treatment. The following chemicals are suitable for killing anthracnose spores:

1. DNOC 1%. Solution: dilute 50 grams in 2 liters of water, and then add another 8 liters. Treat the bush when digging, soil and fallen leaves. Important! It should be used no more than once every two seasons.
2. Copper sulfate 1%. Dilute 100 grams of copper in 10 liters of water. For one bush – 1.5 liters. Treat in the spring, before the buds swell, and in the fall, after the leaves fall.
3. Gamair. Dilute 1 tablet in a small amount of water, and then increase the volume to 10 liters. Important! You should not use hot water for the solution, as the product will lose its effect.
4. Ridomil Gold. Used exclusively for treatment and not prevention of disease. Solution: 25 grams per 10 liters of water.
5. Fundazol. Suitable for both treatment and prevention. 10-15 grams of powder per 10 liters of water.
6. Fitosporin. Can be used at any stage of bush development. For a solution, 5 grams of powder should be diluted in 10 liters of water.
7. Bordeaux mixture 1%, 3%. Suitable for the prevention and treatment of reddened plants. Can be used up to 5 times per season.

To treat rust, you should use Fitosporin and Bordeaux mixture.

Insect treatment

To get rid of aphids, first of all, you need to cut off and burn all branches with damaged leaves.

Important! It is necessary to destroy branches even with minor damage, where eggs can be laid, to avoid recurrence of infection.

Before you start fighting with chemicals, you should try to destroy the pest with natural insecticides:

1. Tobacco solution. Pour boiling water over 300 grams of tobacco dust and leave for 2-3 days. Strain the infusion and add 100 grams of soap dissolved in water.
2. Marigold decoction. Pour half a bucket of crushed flowers with 10 liters of boiling water. Leave for 2 days. Strain and add 50 grams of soap.

In more advanced cases, you should turn to chemicals: Confido Maxi, Vofatox, Proteus, Calypso, Actellik (they should be used before the berries appear and after they are collected). Milder agents: Bitoxibacillin, Actofit, Avertin.

Timing and frequency of treatment measures

Treatments are carried out throughout the season.

Frequency of treatments against fungal diseases:

• in spring, when the leaves bloom (the most important treatment);
• after flowering;
• after harvest.

If the disease progresses, the frequency of treatment should be increased.

Treatment of currants against aphids:

• on bushes with dormant buds and on the soil;
• when the buds open.

Additional spraying - depending on the infection.

What to do to prevent currant leaves from turning red

Currant treatment is a troublesome and long-term task. Therefore, it is much easier to prevent the onset of the disease by carrying out regular prevention.

Autumn prevention

Starts after picking berries. You can also start it at the end of August.During autumn prevention, the infection should be combated with strong chemicals. More attention should be paid to trimming leaves and dry branches, and then burning them, because it is in fallen leaves that the largest number of fungal spores and insects are found.

You can remove leaves on black currants manually. On the red one they should fall off on their own.

Spring prevention

It begins before the leaves bloom and before the snow melts, and is considered the most important. At this time, in addition to plants, diseases also awaken. It is necessary to treat with boiling water, watering the plant and the soil around it. In addition, regardless of the presence of the disease, treatment with chemicals or copper solutions should be carried out.