What to do to treat apple cancer, control measures and resistant varieties

One of the diseases that can affect an apple tree is cancer. If the disease is not recognized in time, the tree dies. In addition, the infection quickly spreads to neighboring fruit trees. Therefore, it is important to know the first signs of damage, find out the cause of its appearance and ways to combat each stage of cancer. Effective means of control can be bought in the store or made independently according to folk recipes.

Types of disease

There are several types of cancer that affect apple trees.

Black

Initially, small black dots become noticeable on the trunk. Gradually they grow, the bark turns black and falls off. The leaves also become covered with spots, which leads to their premature fall.

Regular or European

Dark spots with a white sheen cover the roots and branches of trees. Then dark brown growths appear, the bark begins to darken and fall off.

Root

After infection, growths form on the roots, which rot and spread a large number of bacteria. Most often, this type of cancer leads to the death of the tree.

Bacterial

This type of cancer most often affects ovaries with fruits and branches. Leaves become spotted, curl and dry out. The fruits darken, wrinkle and rot.

Who is the causative agent

Apple tree cancer is caused by bacteria and fungi that have entered damaged areas on the tree.

Factors and optimal conditions for infection

There are several provoking factors that increase the risk of contracting apple tree cancer.

Positive temperature

In most cases, cancer infection occurs in early spring. Active reproduction of the fungus occurs at air temperatures above +22 degrees.Spores survive even in heat equal to +40 degrees.

Poor quality trees

Old trees are more susceptible to cancer. Such apple trees have reduced immunity, so they do not have the strength to resist infection. Active reproduction of the fungus begins.

Spores quickly spread with a gust of wind to neighboring, healthy trees.

Incorrect care or lack thereof

One of the main reasons for the development of cancer is improper care. The disease is provoked by irregular watering, lack of fertilizers, and violation of the technique of pruning branches.. Apple trees that are affected by pests and diseases are most susceptible to cancer.

Excessive grooming

Cancer is often caused by excessive care of apple trees:

• An excess of micronutrients in the soil creates a breeding ground for pathogens.
• Frequent watering reduces the plant's immunity.

Therefore, it is so important to establish a regime for caring for fruit plantings.

Incorrect landing

Seedlings should be planted according to all the rules:

• Maintain a certain distance between trees.
• Prepare the planting hole correctly.
• Prepare the soil.

A drainage layer is laid at the bottom of the planting hole and nutrients are added. If the soil is acidic, liming is carried out.

Description of the course of the disease

Apple tree cancer is difficult to recognize in the initial stages of development. You should periodically inspect all trees and notice any unusual manifestations.

What are the signs for diagnosing the disease?

As the disease develops, unusual symptoms may appear on different parts of the apple tree. The tree begins to wither and shed its leaves.

Bark

If wounds and cracks are found on the trunk, they should be examined carefully. With cancer, black dots are located in circles around the wound.

With the active development of infection, signs are easily distinguished.The bark is covered with deep depressions of purple and black shades. The affected area becomes deformed and cracks.

Flower

During the flowering period, a sign of cancer will be a change in the appearance of the inflorescences. The petals are covered with brown spots and stripes. Inside, the inflorescence begins to turn black and twist.

Fetus

Small brown spots begin to appear on the fruits, which gradually become larger. The sign becomes noticeable only when the fruits enter the ripening stage.

As a result, the entire inside of the apples rots and they fall to the ground. Not all bad apples fall. Even after the leaves have completely fallen, black, wrinkled fruits hang on the branches.

Sheet

Already when the leaves bloom in spring, spots become noticeable on the leaves. At first, the spots are small in size with a brown-red tint. As the disease progresses, the spots grow and become darker. The leaves dry out and fall off. The tree begins to abruptly shed its leaves long before the onset of cold weather. As a result, the quality of the crop decreases. The fruits rot and are poorly stored.

Why is it dangerous for a tree?

The disease leads to decreased fruiting and deterioration in fruit quality. Without treatment, the tree gradually dies.

Is the disease dangerous for humans?

Apple tree cancer does not pose any danger to the human body. Apples from diseased trees can be eaten if they are clean and have not begun to rot.

Apple tree treatment methods

What to do if a problem is detected? You should immediately begin to find an effective way to combat it. There are a number of consistent steps to take to fight cancer.

Cleaning

The diseased bark is removed. Using a knife, cut out the entire area, capturing about 2 cm of healthy bark in a circle.Be sure to cut off dry, affected branches, remove bad leaves and collect rotten fruits.

The collected parts of the affected tree are burned or taken away from the garden. If you decide to completely remove the entire tree, you should dig out the roots as deeply as possible.

Disinfection and isolation of the wound

The area of ​​the trunk cleared of bark is disinfected with a solution of copper or iron sulfate, potassium permanganate and brilliant green. Then the area cleared of fungus is treated with garden varnish, drying oil or oil paint. These components protect the wound from moisture and air.

Apple tree processing

A tree affected by cancer is completely sprayed with copper sulfate. The use of other products containing copper is also permitted. After complete disinfection, the wound is coated with a mixture of clay and mullein.

Garden treatment

To completely destroy the infection, the entire garden should be treated with antifungal agents. You should refrain from digging up the soil near the tree trunk for a while. This will avoid the appearance of wounds and cracks on the roots.

What remedies are effective in combating the disease?

Chemicals and natural components of folk recipes help in the fight against infections. The main thing is to follow the dosing and dilution recommendations. The means used can be aimed at destroying spores, disinfecting wounds and fertilizing the soil in order to increase immunity.

Antifungal drugs for humans

There are gardeners who treat apple tree cancer with the antifungal agent Nystatin. The drug destroys fungi that live on the human mucosa. Therefore, it is not advisable to treat plants with medicine.

Copper-containing products

Copper-based preparations are effective for disinfection.Effective remedies include copper sulfate, Bordeaux mixture, Kuproksat, Khom, Tsikhom, Oksikhom. There are universal drugs that fight viruses, bacteria and fungi: Alirin, Fitosporin, Topaz, Fundazol, Gamair, Strike. Such drugs penetrate into hard-to-reach places, destroying spores.

Stem injections

A cancer treatment option involves the use of the antibiotic Streptomycin. The treatment plan includes several stages:

• A hole 2.5 cm deep is drilled in the trunk at a level of a meter from the ground. Select an area near which there are no wounds or cracks so that the medicine does not leak out.
• A special system is purchased that allows you to introduce a medicinal solution into the barrel using a hose.
• After administering the drug, the hole is closed with a stopper.
• Injections are repeated at weekly intervals five times.
• The solution must be injected into each branch whose diameter is more than 16 cm.

The administered drug is distributed in different directions over two meters.

Antibiotics

Tetracycline or Streptomycin will come in handy. The solution can be prepared from any form of antibiotic release.

In the first year of treatment, Streptomycin is used. The previously cleaned wound is sprayed with a liquid medicinal solution. Treatment is carried out three times per season. In the second year of treatment, the medicine is replaced with Tetracycline. To dilute the solution, two antibiotic tablets are useful, which are dissolved in water.

Folk remedies

The compositions of folk recipes are considered effective.

A mixture of clay and mullein

The components are taken in equal proportions. A thick layer of the resulting mixture is applied to the affected area. Then the area is bandaged and a layer of the mixture is applied again.Leave this bandage for the whole season, periodically moisten it with water.

Rosin, wax and nigrola

Each component is taken in equal proportions. It is recommended to apply several layers of the mixture to the damaged area at certain intervals.

garden soil

A small portion of garden soil is treated with fungicides, moistened with water and applied to the damaged area.

Duration of treatment

It will be possible to completely cure an apple tree of cancer in a few years. The timing largely depends on the stage of the disease and the degree of spread.

Prevention measures

Prevention measures include:

• Only healthy shoots and seedlings are selected for planting and grafting;
• to maintain immunity, organize regular feedings;
• The bark should be pruned and cleaned annually;
• Whitewashing will help protect the trunk from burns and infections;
• trunks should be protected from winter frosts;
• the tree trunk area is periodically weeded from weeds and loosened.

By following all the tips and recommendations, you will be able to avoid the appearance of cancer.

Varieties resistant to cancer

Varieties resistant to black cancer are: Alva, Anis, Alesya, Papirovka, Jonathan, Borovinka, Rubin, Autumn Joy.