Symptoms and signs of cytosporosis on apple trees, methods of treatment and prevention

Treatment of apple tree cytosporosis requires compliance with a number of features. To cope with this disorder, mechanical or chemical means can be used. In addition to standard procedures, it is permissible to use folk recipes. Moreover, treatment is effective only at the initial stages of pathology development. To avoid the development of the disease, preventive measures should be taken.

What kind of disease is this

Cytosporosis is an infectious fungal pathology that often affects fruit trees. This is a very dangerous disease that causes the tree bark to dry out. Under the influence of fungal toxins that are released during life, the bark dries and acquires a spongy consistency. After some time, it acquires a dark shade and dies.

The causative agent of cytosporosis

Cytosporosis is provoked by fungal microorganisms - Cytospora copitata Sacc et Schnalz and Cytospora carphosperma Fr. The pathology affects trees of any age. Burns and cracks act as a source of infection. Pathogens are spread by wind or insects. They develop successfully in high humidity.

Signs of tree infection

The pathology becomes noticeable during the flowering period or later - at the beginning of summer. First of all, the state of the cortex changes. Characteristic mounds form on it, in which spores develop. But this sign is almost invisible. Cytosporosis is very dangerous for apple trees. It can lead to the death of the tree. As the disease develops, the flowers dry out and rust. In this case, the bark acquires a red-brown or orange tint. Sometimes it turns green and becomes swollen.

The spots are rapidly increasing. As a result, they encircle the branch. The bark almost does not allow juice to pass through and often dies off. Foliage and flowers around the affected area dry out. The bark takes on a dark shade. Ulcers often form on it. In difficult situations, wood suffers. In the affected areas, cracks appear and gum is released.

What can be confused with

Cytosporosis resembles the symptoms of black cancer. But with the second disease, the fungus forms obvious concentric circles, while with cytosporosis, chaotic bumps appear on the bark.In addition, with cytosporosis, the bark acquires a spongy structure. At the same time, it does not peel off, as with black cancer.

Pathology is difficult to eliminate, so it is much easier to engage in prevention rather than treat an infected garden.

What is the danger to the apple tree?

Cytosporosis is one of the most serious diseases. Sap flow occurs exclusively in the bark. When it is damaged, the tree fragment does not receive useful elements and therefore dries out.

Under the influence of toxins of fungal microorganisms that are released during life, the bark dries out and acquires a spongy structure. It does not conduct juices, and after a short period of time it darkens and dies with the branch.

Effective control measures

In difficult situations, the pathology is difficult to treat. Therefore, it is best to engage in disease prevention.

Processing agents

There are many effective chemicals that help cope with cytosporosis. Mechanical methods of control are also highly effective.

Treatment by mechanical methods

To stop the development of the disease, it is necessary to remove all affected fragments. It is important to get rid of the affected tissue. The remaining procedures are auxiliary in nature. Affected thin branches must be mercilessly removed. It is recommended to cut them off and treat the damaged fragments with copper sulfate. Then apply var. It is also permissible to use drying oil.

Skeletal fragments need to be examined in detail. If part of the bark is damaged, you can try to save the branches. If the phenomenon of interception is present, the shoot is removed completely. If wood is damaged, any branch must be pruned. If the trunk is damaged, the apple tree will most likely die.

Chemicals

If symptoms of cytosporosis are detected, it is recommended to treat trees with modern fungicides. Depending on the stage of vegetation, different solutions are used. It is best to begin eliminating cytosporosis in early spring. For the first time, the apple tree should be sprayed before leaves form. At this stage it is recommended to use copper sulfate. Its concentration should be 3%. The tree trunk circle must be treated with a solution of ammonium nitrate with a concentration of 10%. It is also permissible to use a 7% urea solution.

At the stage of kidney swelling, it is permissible to use Khoma solution. It is recommended to take 40 grams of the drug for 10 liters of water. It is also permissible to use colloidal sulfur with a concentration of 1%.

The following treatment is carried out before the trees bloom. At this stage, a solution of copper sulfate with a concentration of 5% is used. It is also permissible to use a composition based on 10 liters of water and 50 grams of colloidal sulfur. The tree should be treated for the third time immediately after flowering has finished. In this case, it is worth using Khoma’s solution.

Folk recipes

In addition to chemicals, you can use effective folk recipes:

1. A product based on clay and mullein. These substances must be taken in equal parts. To use the product, the affected area must be thoroughly cleaned and sprinkled with copper sulfate. Then apply the composition and wrap with a rag.
2. Composition based on vitriol, rosin and kerosene. The product helps at the initial stage of fungal infection. To do this, you need to mix rosin, vitriol and kerosene in a ratio of 3:1:1. In this case, there is no need to clean the affected area. It must be lubricated with the composition using a hard brush.

Features of antibiotic treatment

The disease can be treated with antibacterial drugs - Streptomycin and Tetracycline. To do this, it is recommended to treat the damaged areas with solutions with a concentration of 2-4%. It is also permissible to spray the crown and make stem injections.

When and how to perform the procedure

At the beginning of spring it is necessary to prune the branches. This should be done before the first leaves bloom. The cut area should be lubricated with copper sulfate with a concentration of 3%. To avoid contact of bacteria and fungal spores on the damaged area, it is recommended to cover it with garden pitch. All tree pruning activities are recommended to be carried out in warm and dry weather.

Prevention

To avoid the development of cytosporosis, it is recommended to follow these rules:

1. Perform anti-aging pruning at intervals of 3-4 years. Systematically remove affected branches. Moreover, it is forbidden to leave stumps from pruned trees. In conditions of high humidity, fungal spores actively multiply on them.
2. Burn fallen fruits, leaves, flowers. Clean broken areas and treat with vitriol. Then cover with a layer of clay and mullein or use putty. This helps increase the tree's resistance to frost and strengthen the immune system.
3. Disinfect tools with kerosene. It is also acceptable to use formaldehyde.
4. Whiten trunks and tangles of branches with lime solution. This helps prevent sunburn.
5. Systematically loosen the soil under the tree. This saturates the roots with moisture and oxygen, and also helps cope with pests.
6. Avoid drying out the soil.
7. Systematically fertilize poor soil. In this case, it is recommended to apply nitrogen agents in a minimal amount. It is better to use potassium and phosphorus.

Cytosporosis is a dangerous pathology that often affects apple trees. To avoid the active proliferation of fungi, it is worth following the rules of prevention.