What kind of disease is it when black spots appear on the leaves of an apple tree, how to treat it and what to do

There are many reasons for the appearance of black spots on apple tree leaves. Most often, the symptom is associated with infection of some kind. The causative agent is fungi, bacteria or viruses. Other signs may appear at the same time. It is important to establish the correct diagnosis immediately after identifying the problem and begin the correct treatment. Preventive measures will protect the fruit tree from re-infection.

Black spots on apple leaves

When infected with various infections, a whole range of symptoms appear. The appearance of black spots or dots is typical for several types of diseases. Greater attention should be paid to the problem and the most effective method of dealing with it should be found. Otherwise, the quality and quantity of the harvest will decrease, and in some cases the problem can lead to the death of the tree.

Less often, the appearance of black spots is associated with improper care. The symptom appears when there is a lack or excess of micronutrients or when the watering regime is improperly organized.

What diseases cause blackening of foliage?

The reasons why black dots appear on leaves lie in diseases such as scab, fire blight or apple tree cancer. Even a young apple tree may show similar symptoms.

To determine what disease has affected the tree, you need to conduct a thorough examination.

They study the structure of the spots and the extent of infection (determine whether fruits, bark, branches are affected). Based on the totality of symptoms, an accurate diagnosis can be made.

Signs of the disease

Signs of the disease include not only blackening of leaves. Most diseases are accompanied by the following set of symptoms:

• death of individual sections of the bark, change in appearance, appearance of cracks;
• curling and drying of leaves;
• premature leaf fall;
• fruit rotting;
• the appearance of dry branches.

Each disease progresses differently, has distinctive features and requires an individual approach in developing treatment.

Bacterial burn

The disease can be detected already during flowering:

• The inflorescences become dark brown and fall off.
• The leaves dry out, turn black and curl. They hang as if burned, but do not fall off.
• The fruits set poorly and black spots appear on them, which quickly increase in size. As a result, the apples dry out and hang on the branches until autumn.
• The bark softens and becomes covered with white spots that look like mold.

The infection quickly spreads to healthy trees. If you do not start fighting the disease, then within two years all the trees will have to be uprooted.

Black cancer

Black cancer is a fungal disease. Spores are most active in hot, humid weather. Symptoms can appear on any part of the tree:

• dark brown cracks are found on the bark;
• Black spots are noticeable on the surface of the leaves; over time, the leaves dry out and fall off;
• the fruits turn black, wrinkle and dry out.

Most often, old, weakened trees are infected. But in case of improper care or other provoking factors, even a young seedling can get sick.

Ring spot

The causative agent of the disease is viruses. You should suspect the disease if you notice the following symptoms:

• the leaves first become covered with yellow spots, and then the spots turn black;
• black rings form on the leaf blade and fruits;
• the tree stops developing and growing.

The disease is difficult to treat. Therefore, it is important to prevent infection by providing proper care.

Scab

The fungal disease spreads in rainy, cool weather. With the arrival of spring, spores begin to actively reproduce and affect all parts of the tree.

First, gray-green spots appear on young leaves. Over time, it is discovered that the leaves have completely blackened, dried out and fallen off.Black spots on the fruit increase in size, eventually the apple rots.

Sooty coating

A fungal infection causes a black, sooty coating to appear on the surface of leaves, fruits and shoots. All damaged parts of the plant stop absorbing air and light.

Lack of magnesium and manganese

Lack of micronutrients often causes spots on leaves. With a lack of magnesium, the leaf plate between the veins first turns yellow. Then black spots appear. The affected leaves fall off, the fruits are small in size and not tasty.

With a deficiency of manganese, the edges of the leaves first begin to turn yellow, and then the entire plate and veins remain green. Then dark spots appear and the leaves fall off.

Timing and technology of processing

Each case has its own ways of dealing with the problem. The growing season, the age of the tree, the causative agent of the disease, and the prevalence of infection are taken into account.

Bacterial diseases

How to fight bacterial infections? In most cases, the fight is carried out with the help of antibiotics. Solutions are made based on drugs such as Streptomycin, Tetracycline, Gentamicin, Kanamycin. Bactericidal biological products also help: “Gamair”, “Fitosporin”, “Gaupsin”, “Pentafag”.

Fungal infections

For fungal diseases, solutions based on preparations containing copper are effective: “Skor”, “Topaz”, “Hom”. Spraying the crown with Bordeaux mixture helps.

Viral infections

There are no drugs against viral diseases. Therefore, agricultural practices should be followed:

• pruning should be done in February;
• all removed parts of the tree must be burned;
• if a problem is detected, the application of phosphorus and nitrogen should be reduced;
• for spraying the crown, it is recommended to use the preparations “Epin” or “Zircon”;
• Pest control must be carried out.

All these preventive measures will help increase the plant’s immunity.

What drugs to use

When determining how to treat apple trees, you need to take into account the causative agent of the disease and the season of treatment. Treatment is carried out with biologically active agents, chemicals and compositions based on folk recipes.

How to protect your garden from re-infection

In order to prevent re-infection, trees should be properly cared for. It is important to add the necessary microelements in a timely manner, remove damaged and dry branches, and weed the area around the trunk to remove weeds.

Preventive treatment of the entire garden

Caring for apple trees varies depending on the season. Preventive measures will reduce the risk of developing and spreading infection.

Spring

Spring treatment is carried out before the buds begin to bloom. For spraying, a solution based on “Zircon” is used. Remove dry and damaged branches. Wounds and cracks are covered with drying oil or garden varnish. The soil is disinfected with a solution of urea and ammonium nitrate. Immediately after flowering, treatment should be carried out with such preparations as “Kuprozan”, “Zineb”, “Horus”, “Hom”, “Vectra”.

Summer

In the summer, with the arrival of consistently warm weather, trees are treated with fungicides: “Gamair”, “Raek”, “Fitolavin”, “Zircon”, “Fitosporin”.

Autumn

In autumn, all fallen leaves are raked and removed away from the garden or burned. The trunks need to be whitened, and the trunk area should be deeply loosened. Spraying with a solution of copper sulfate is also recommended.

Proper care and fertilization

Proper care of apple trees includes the following points:

• digging and weeding of the tree trunk area;
• establishing an irrigation regime;
• crown formation;
• pruning;
• preventive treatment against pests and diseases.

It is important to apply fertilizers on time. The apple tree is fed:

• organic matter (manure, humus, bird droppings);
• mineral fertilizers (urea, ammonium nitrate);
• microfertilizers (boron, manganese).

Each type of feeding should be introduced at a certain time, observing the dosage.