Apricot diseases

Apricot is one of the most popular and beloved stone fruit crops in our area, famous for its delicious aromatic fruits and a variety of varieties. In order for a tree to always serve as a decoration for the garden and give a generous harvest, it must be properly looked after. You should definitely know the most common diseases of apricots and methods of dealing with them - including what measures you need to take to keep the trees healthy.

Diseases of apricot trees and their treatment (with photo)

In accordance with the causes of occurrence, all diseases of apricot trees are:

• infectious;
• non-infectious.

Infectious diseases arise as a result of the activity of pathogenic pathogens:

• fungi;
• viruses;
• bacteria.

Non-infectious can be the result of unfavorable environmental conditions (too high or low temperatures, lack or excess of water, malnutrition, increased content of harmful substances in the air or soil).

By the nature of the spread of apricot disease (with photos as examples) there are:

• local (affecting individual plant organs);
  
• common (spreading throughout the body, which often leads to its death).
  

The whole variety of apricot diseases is also classified according to external manifestations (symptoms):

• plaque (powdery dust on the surface of leaves and other organs);
• a change in the color of tissues (as an example - an apricot with red leaves, also manifests itself on inflorescences, shoots);
• pustules (pads containing spores of pathogens, on the surface of various organs - "rust");
• necrosis (tissue death in the form of various spots - apricot leaves "in a hole" in case of clasterosporium disease, etc.);
• mummification (the affected organs turn black and dry out);
• deformation (under the action of a pathogenic agent, the leaves curl on the apricot, "pockets" of the fruit appear);
• rot (destruction of previously softened tissues);
• wilting (cell turgor weakens sharply due to lack of water - it can also be viral, manifested in the fact that after flowering apricot leaves curl up);
• ulceration (depressions in softened tissues);
• tumors, growths (thickening of apricot branches, trunk, leaves as a result of a sharp increase in the number and volume of cells).

Scab on apricot

One of the most "famous" fungal diseases affecting apricot trees is stone fruit scab.

Symptoms of the disease and causes of infection

Defining this apricot disease is fairly straightforward.

Primary (early) infection occurs on the leaves:

• at first, these are greenish rounded marks with indistinct borders, chaotically scattered on their back;

• over time, the spots turn brown, hard, can cover the entire vegetative organ, including the stalk and veins;
• with a strong lesion, apricot leaves wither, dry up and fall off;
• the same thing gradually begins to happen with the shoots.

Late manifestations of the disease affect the fruits:

• they become visible on unripe apricots as gray or brown hard spots;
• as the fetus ripens, the affected area grows;
• a velvety texture appears on the surface, changing color from olive to black;
• the fruit cracks, its pulp is destroyed, the taste and attractive appearance are lost.

Reasons for infection:

• stress - the reaction of apricot to sudden changes in the weather, which weakens the tree and makes it vulnerable to infections;
• the causative agent of the disease is activated at high humidity, during sharp fluctuations in temperature (in spring);
• preventive measures not taken in a timely manner or carried out incorrectly.

What is the causative agent of scab

The causative agent of the disease is a pathogenic fungus that hibernates in the form of small dark balls on fallen leaves. In spring, its spores are released and dispersed during rainy, humid weather, infecting healthy stone fruit trees.

How to spray apricot from scab

As control measures, apricot from scab should be treated with fungicides of new generations - Kaptan-50 (0.3%) or Topsin-M (0.1%).

Spraying schedule:

• the first time - before flowering;
• after flowering is complete, repeat;
• further - every 10-14 days, if necessary from 3 to 6 times.

Fighting scab with folk methods

You can try to treat apricot scab and using folk remedies:

• irrigate the trunk, crown of the tree, as well as the near-trunk circle with a solution of mustard powder (40 g per 5 liters of water);
• in spring, summer, early autumn, spray with a solution of saturated pink potassium permanganate.

A set of preventive measures

If the treatment of apricot from scab is carried out when the signs of the disease have already manifested themselves, then preventive measures are designed to prevent infection of trees.

For these purposes, it is necessary:

• gently water the apricots without waterlogging the soil;
• carry out annual pruning of branches, removing dry and damaged;
• weed out thoroughly in the summer weeds, in autumn - collect and burn fallen leaves;
• regularly loosen the soil in the trunk circle;
• examine the shoots, leaves and fruits of trees for the presence of fungus;
• in the spring to carry out preventive spraying apricots with Bordeaux liquid (1%), lime-sulfur solution, fumigation with sawdust.

What is apricot cytosporosis, how to treat the disease

Very often in the mouths of gardeners one can hear a complaint: "the apricot is drying up, the leaves and twigs are wilted." This is a characteristic sign of another serious disease - cytosporous desiccation. Spores of its causative agent (fungus) affect wood in places of damage, on cuts, cuts.

Signs of illness:

• as a rule, at the beginning of summer, after flowering, the apricot's young branches and tops of the shoots wither and dry sharply;
• characteristic smudges of brown color are formed on them;
• the bark acquires a brown tint, many wounds appear on it, flowing out with gum;
• gradually the apricot wood is covered with black tubercles, which next year will turn into rough growths of a mushroom that has sprouted deep into the depths.

A tree can be saved only at the initial stage of the disease, so you need to act as soon as possible:

• all affected branches should be removed, capturing 10 cm from their healthy part;
• in the spring, be sure to trim the apricot;
• the wound surface must be covered with garden varnish, deep hollows must be cemented;
• in the fall, add top dressing (phosphorus, potassium) to the soil, do not forget about systematic watering.

Apricot leaf diseases and their treatment

The gardener will need a brief description of the diseases of apricot trees (with a photo for a visual representation), the manifestations of which are clearly visible on the leaves.

Gray rot (moniliosis) - spread by insects and wind, mainly in cloudy weather:

• the apricot dries after flowering, young shoots wither, acquire a brown color;
• fruits become covered with dark spots, rot;
• apricot leaves curl, dry out, acquiring a resemblance to burnt ones.

Disease control measures:

• timely destruction of affected leaves, shoots, fruits;
• spraying with Bordeaux liquid (3%) at the stage of bud swelling;
• treatment of the crown of a diseased apricot with a solution of Topsin-M, Strobi, Topaz with the addition of shavings of laundry soap.

Gnomoniosis, or brown spot, is a disease that affects the crown and fruits:

• at first appears as yellow markings on the leaf blades;
• the leaves on the apricot turn red, turn brown, then dry out;
• fruits fall off even before ripening, or become twisted, ugly.

Disease control measures:

• thorough cleaning of the affected areas of the tree;
• soil treatment under apricot with a solution of copper sulfate (1%);
• in early spring, spraying the crown with Bordeaux liquid.

The curliness of apricot leaves (pictured) is one of the most dangerous fungal diseases, the result of which can be a complete loss of harvest:

• leaf plates are covered with yellow blisters, which gradually change color to auburn;
• their shape is bent, swelling ("curliness") of a reddish color appears;
• after the mass death of leaves, the death of apricot fruits begins, deformation of the shoots.

Disease control measures:

• removal of all damaged organs;
• treatment of apricots with pesticides containing copper;
• applying organic fertilizers to the soil in the spring.

Verticillosis (wilting) is an apricot disease caused by a fungus living in the soil:

• apricot leaves turn yellow, curl, fall off en masse, starting from the bottom of the tree;
• then the dying off of shoots follows, slowly capturing the entire plant to the very top.

Treatment measures:

• spraying with a solution of Fundazol, Vitaros, Previkura (0.2%);
• timely prevention of apricot disease (avoidance of root damage, purchase of high-quality seedlings, antifungal soil treatment).

Viral wilting often affects stone fruit after grafting or budding:

• apricot leaves wither, blossoming simultaneously with flowers;
• the plates become thicker, curl, become stained;
• then the fruits are affected - the pulp dies, starting from the stone.

This apricot disease is easier to prevent than to cure:

• when grafting and pruning, use a tool treated with disinfecting solutions or heated;
• for prevention, treat the trunk with lime with copper sulfate;
• prevent damage by pests, correctly apply fertilizing.

Clasterosporium disease, or perforated spot, most often affects trees in spring and in autumn:

• holes appear on the apricot leaves, preceded by brown spots;
• shoots are covered with dark marks, from which gum flows.

Disease treatment measures:

• pruning and destruction of affected parts of the tree;
• spraying in spring and autumn with Bordeaux liquid (4%) or copper sulfate (1%);
• Horus is effective in the rosebud phase and is safe for bees.

Apricot bark diseases

It is worth dwelling in more detail on the description of apricot diseases with photographs of their manifestations on the bark of the tree.

Vals mushroom looks like knotty growths (sores) of bright orange color on the trunk and branches. Getting inside through wounds and cracks, it infects wood tissue and interferes with the normal circulation of the sap.

Disease control measures:

• do not overmoisten the soil;
• pruning regularly;
• if affected, use fungicides.

Gum flow - sticky amber "tears" that appear in abundance in the cracks of branches and trunk. This is a sign that the tree is sick or forced to grow in unfavorable conditions.

Bark damage can also be caused by:

• frostbite;
• sunburn;
• mosses and lichens parasitizing on it;
• accidental mechanical damage when caring for a tree;
• activity of pests and rodents.

Recommend:

• gently peel the bark to live wood;
• let the surface of the wound dry slightly;
• disinfect it with an antifungal drug;
• treat with a healing putty - garden varnish.

Instead of a garden varnish, a mixture of clay and mullein is often used, diluted with a solution of Bordeaux liquid, copper sulfate or another copper-containing preparation.

Apricot root diseases

It is much easier to identify apricot disease by the leaves or bark than by the roots. However, this part of the plant is also very vulnerable and requires careful attention and proper care.

Many fungal spores are found in the soil. They attack the tree, penetrating through cracks and damage, including on the roots. To avoid this, you should:

• when choosing a seedling for planting, pay attention to the fact that its root system is healthy and developed;
• very carefully carry out gardening work inside the trunk circle: fertilizing, loosening the soil, mulching;
• Do not plant solanaceous crops (tomato, eggplant, pepper) next to the apricot tree, which can serve as a source of infection, which is transmitted through the roots.

Young shoots often appear around the apricot - root suckers. As a rule, this is also evidence of the unfavorable condition of the roots: damage to them by frost, rodents, or mechanical injury. Although there are varieties for which the presence of offspring is simply their feature.

Other apricot diseases and methods of their treatment

Here are a few more apricot diseases and methods of their treatment that you should know.

Bacterial burn is a severe and difficult to treat disease of fruit trees that can destroy an entire orchard:

• flowers are the first to suffer - they turn brown, wither and fall;
• after flowering, branches and young shoots dry on the apricot;
• leaves and buds turn black;
• cracks are observed on the bark, from which a milky-white liquid oozes.

Control measures:

• spraying a diseased tree from May to June with Azophos solution (5%) and antibiotics (streptomycin, kanamycin);
• treatment during flowering with preparations containing copper;
• uprooting of wild crops and hawthorn (potential carriers of the disease) within a radius of 100 m around the orchard.

Apoplexy is another dangerous disease caused by metabolic disorders due to sudden changes in environmental conditions (in particular, temperature changes):

• as a rule, at the beginning of summer, the leaves begin to wither sharply (for no apparent external reason);
• branches dry out;
• the wood on the trunk dries up.

The tree will quickly die if you do not take action in time:

• cut off the affected branches, disinfecting and treating all the cut sites with garden pitch;
• to prevent disease at the end of October, the trunk and branches of the apricot must be whitened;
• for the winter, be sure to cover a tree, especially a young one.

Gardeners often complain that apricots are losing their color. This phenomenon should be carefully studied, since there may be several reasons:

• this is how moniliosis manifests itself, which was discussed above;
• if the apricot variety is not self-fertile, perhaps the fact is that there is no pollinator tree nearby, or it does not bloom;
• there is a possibility that it is bad weather (cold or strong wind), as a result of which bees and other insects are not active enough.

Prevention of apricot diseases

General preventive measures will help to minimize the risks associated with diseases of apricots and other fruit trees on the site. You should not neglect these, at first glance, simple actions, which in fact can significantly facilitate the gardener's life:

• use exclusively healthy seedlings when planting;
• timely and correctly feed the trees with fertilizers;
• fight weeds and pests;
• before pruning and grafting, be sure to disinfect the instrument and hands;
• treat the cut sites with special disinfecting solutions;
• monitor the condition of the trunk, branches, leaves throughout the season;
• remove and burn fallen leaves in a timely manner;
• in the fall, be sure to do moisture charging.

Useful tips for the treatment and prevention of apricot diseases are given in the video

Pests of apricot trees and their treatment (with photo)

Now we should dwell briefly on the most common pests of apricot and the fight against them (photos will help you imagine what kind of insects we are talking about).

Leafworm is a small gray-brown moth. Its caterpillars eat leaves and buds in spring. It is not uncommon to observe how the leaves of the apricot curl up. A caterpillar lives in these "tubes". Such leaves must be cut off and destroyed.

Aphids are colonies of small black, green or brown insects that feed on the cell sap of the plant's vegetative organs. They settle on the wrong side of leaves, young shoots, which first curl and become sticky, and eventually turn yellow and dry out. Where aphids have appeared, an anthill is always located nearby.

The moth is a small dark butterfly. Its caterpillars are a real scourge of the orchard. Hatching in late summer and early autumn, they massively infect fruits.

Weevils are small blue or green beetles that overwinter in damaged bark and topsoil. They damage leaves, buds, flowers, fruits. With a strong defeat, the apricot does not bloom well, already at the beginning of summer it sheds a significant part of its foliage.

Fruit striped moth is a gray moth with thin black stripes on its body and wings. Its caterpillars inflict heavy damage on the shoots and buds of stone fruit trees, biting into them and thereby provoking death.

How to deal with pests on apricots

General recommendations for pest control of apricot trees are as follows:

• timely cut and burn damaged shoots, collect and destroy affected leaves and fruits;
• whitewash tree trunks;
• loosen the soil in the near-trunk circle, destroying insects hibernating there;
• treat trees with insecticidal preparations suitable for specific apricot pests.

Apricot protection against diseases and pests

Information about diseases, pests of apricot and how to deal with them should be supplemented with tree protection measures to prevent disaster.

Processing apricots in spring from pests and diseases

Spring treatment of apricots for diseases and pests includes:

• carrying out sanitary pruning of the tree, thinning of branches until the buds swell;
• removal (with the help of a special metal brush) larvae, caterpillars, egg clutches, green lichen;
• before the buds bloom, sprinkle the tree with Bordeaux mixture (3%);
• 2 weeks after flowering (and then according to the instructions of the drug used), the crown is treated with Bordeaux liquid 1%, copper oxychloride, Tsineb or Kaptan.

Processing of fruit crops in summer and autumn

Prevention of diseases and pests of apricot should also be carried out in the summer and autumn periods.

In the summer (but no later than 2 weeks before the start of the harvest), trees can be treated with Horus, colloidal sulfur, antifungal drugs.

Autumn prevention involves the following:

• after the foliage has fallen, it is advised to treat the trees with a urea solution (700 g per 10 liters of water);
• in late autumn, spraying with preparations containing copper is shown;
• if you did not have time to do the treatment before the onset of cold weather, use ferrous sulfate.

Conclusion

Diseases of apricots and the fight against them are inevitable realities faced by every gardener who grows these trees on their site. Timely and correctly recognized symptoms of a disease or harmful activity of insects will help determine the necessary course of action and select drugs to save the tree with the minimum possible damage to its health. We should not forget about correct and regular prevention - it is always easier to prevent an ailment than to treat it later.

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