Yellow spots on plum fruits. Plum diseases and the fight against them (photo)
The plum stone plant is one of the most common garden crops. Like all other fruit trees, plums are susceptible to attack by pests and various diseases. In order for growing this crop to be a pleasure, and for the harvest to be high-quality and plentiful, every gardener must know plum diseases in person and be able to deal with them. This article provides examples of the most common diseases and pests, as well as effective methods of combating them.
When a plum is affected by brown spot, or gnomoniosis, small spots begin to appear on its leaves in the spring, which can be from reddish-brown to yellowish-ocher, with a purple border. With the development of this disease, black small dots appear on both sides of the leaves - fungal spores. Subsequently, the spots enlarge, become brown and occupy the entire leaf blade, then the leaves curl and fall off.
The fruits do not ripen, and the riper plums become misshapen. As a treatment, before flowering, the soil and trees are sprayed with a solution copper sulfate 1% (100 g per 10 liters of water). 14 days after flowering, trees can be treated with Bordeaux mixture 1% (100 g per 10 liters of water) or Hom fungicide (35 g per 10 liters of water). In case of severe infestation, treatment should be repeated 2-3 weeks before harvest. As preventive measures You need to promptly remove and destroy fallen leaves and dig up the soil around the tree trunk - in the place where fungal spores overwinter.
Hole spot (clasterosporiasis)
Clusterosporiasis (hole spotting) - this disease is similar to the previous one. It differs in that after the formation of red-brown spots, the tissues of the leaf plate inside the spots fall off, forming through holes. Such spots can even appear on fruits, deforming them. On branches, the disease appears as red spots, which lead to bark cracks and gum leakage. If the plum is severely damaged, the leaves partially or completely dry out and fall off, the buds die, and the flowers fall off.
Control methods are similar to those used against brown spot - treatment with copper sulfate or Nitrophen before flowering.
Immediately after flowering, spray with Bordeaux mixture 1% (100 g per 10 liters of water). Repeated spraying can be carried out 14-18 days after flowering, and the third - 2 weeks before harvest. In case of severe infection, another treatment in the fall after the leaves fall with a 3% solution of Bordeaux mixture is permissible. For prevention, you need to promptly remove and burn fallen leaves and dig up the soil around the tree trunk.
Red spotting (polystigmosis) Polystigmosis, or red spot of plum leaves, is also known as fungal blight.
Yellow or light red spots appear on the leaves on both sides, which thicken over time, becoming brighter and more shiny. Trees affected by polystigmosis weaken, their flowers fall off and winter hardiness decreases. To combat the disease, trees and the soil around them are sprayed with copper sulfate or Nitrafen (300 g per 10 liters of water) before the buds open.
Immediately after the trees bloom, you can use Bordeaux mixture for treatment (100 g per 10 liters of water). If necessary, spraying the plum is repeated a couple of weeks after flowering. As a preventive measure, it is necessary to collect and burn all fallen leaves in a timely manner and dig up the soil near the tree trunk. Bacterial burn manifests itself primarily on tree flowers - they acquire a dark brown color and fall off over time.
Young shoots are affected by watery dark spots, turn black, as if burned, and bend. The leaves also darken, become covered with necrotic spots, curl and look as if they are burnt. The spots affect the entire tree: leaves, trunk, branches. The disease can quickly spread throughout the garden and in a short period of time affect all stone fruit trees.
To cure a plum from bacterial burn, before bud formation, the tree is sprayed with a 1% solution of copper sulfate (100 g per 10 liters of water). The fungicide Azofos (5%) and the antibiotics Streptomycin (50 μg/ml) are also effective. , “Gentamicin” (50 mcg/ml), “Rifampin” (50 mcg/ml), “Chloramphenicol” (50 mcg/ml), “Nalidixic acid” (20 mcg/ml), in the amount of 1-2 tablets/ampoules for 5 liters of water. The solution is enough to treat 8-10 trees. Treatment of plums against diseases should be carried out in late spring - early summer, during flowering, three times a season, with an interval of 4-6 days.
Preventive measures to prevent fire blight include:
- uprooting wild plants fruit trees within a radius of 150 meters from the garden. These plants are potential carriers of pathogenic bacteria;
- regular treatment with insecticides;
- constant inspection of trees, leaves, branches for symptoms of disease, if detected, the branches are immediately removed and burned.
Did you know? Previously, people called bacterial burns “Antonov fire.” First cases of defeat garden trees This disease dates back to the 18th century.
Witches' brooms are individual parts of tree crowns with abnormal shoot development. The tree is infected by a pathogenic fungus that takes root in the crown of the tree and leads to mutation and pathology of further growth. In the place where the fungus has “settled”, many thin, barren shoots begin to grow en masse. Due to their abundant branching, the affected tree crown resembles a tuft or ball of hair. The leaves on the affected branches are small, pale or reddish, quickly dry out and fall off. By the end of summer, the leaf becomes covered with a grayish coating - these are spores of the causative fungus.
When a witch's broom is discovered, the affected shoots are immediately cut out and destroyed. To protect plums from witch's broom disease in the spring, before buds form, the trees are sprayed with 3% Bordeaux mixture (300 g per 10 liters of water). After flowering, they are also sprayed again with Bordeaux mixture, but at a lower concentration - 1%. The fungicides Kuprozan and Kaptan are also effective.
Did you know? The name "witch's broom" is associated with numerous beliefs. For example, that it is witches who send diseases into the gardens of people they want to harm.
Gommosis (gum discharge)
Gum disease, or gommosis, is a common non-infectious disease of stone fruit crops. Plum trees can become infected with gum disease as a result of unfavorable wintering or as a result of damage to other diseases, such as clasterosporiasis, moniliosis, etc. Trees growing on acidic, waterlogged and heavily fertilized soils suffer most from gommosis. Symptoms of the disease: secretion of gum on the trunks, which hardens and resembles floating wax.
the affected areas of the tree that secrete gum must be cleaned and treated with a 1% copper sulfate solution and rubbed several times with fresh sorrel leaves at intervals of every 15-20 minutes. Then the “wounds” are lubricated with garden varnish. It is also recommended to carefully furrow the bark in areas where the gum flows. To prevent gum secretion, you need to follow agrotechnical rules and recommendations when growing plums: increase the tree's winter hardiness and resistance to fungal diseases, apply fertilizer correctly and monitor soil moisture.
Sick trees grow poorly and die. Unfortunately, viral diseases of plums have almost no cure; if an infected tree is found in the garden, it must be uprooted and burned. There are only preventive measures to reduce the risk of contracting dwarfism. When planting, you need to use only healthy, proven seedlings, promptly treat plants against sucking insects and carry out preventive agrotechnical measures.
Plum pockets (marsupial disease)
Marsupial disease, or plum pockets, manifests itself in an increase in the fleshy part of the fruit, which at the same time becomes bag-shaped. The disease can be promoted by high humidity in the air and soil around the trees. Diseased fruits stretch up to 5-6 cm in length and do not form a stone. In the initial stage of marsupial disease, plums become green, then turn yellow and brown, while they are tasteless and inedible.
A white waxy coating appears on the fruits, consisting of a layer of fungus. Then the plums fall off. In case of massive damage, the crop loss is more than half. To deal with plum pockets, you need in early spring, before the buds appear, spray with 3% Bordeaux mixture (300 g per 10 liters of water). The fungicide “Horus” (2 g per 10 liters of water) is suitable, which needs to be used to treat the tree before flowering and immediately after it. Diseased plum fruits should be collected immediately and burned until a waxy coating appears. Severely affected branches are cut off and burned.
Plum coccomycosis –
This is an extremely dangerous fungal disease of fruit fruit trees.
It mainly affects leaves, sometimes young shoots and fruits. In the summer, usually in July, small purple-violet or red-brown spots may appear on the surface of the leaf blade, which enlarge and merge together. On back side A white-pinkish coating appears on the leaf - fungal spores. The leaves turn yellow, turn brown and fall off.
The fruits do not develop and dry out. The disease progresses under conditions high humidity and leads to a decrease in the frost resistance of the tree. As a preventive measure, it is necessary to collect and burn fallen leaves where the causative agents of coccomycosis overwinter. In autumn, the soil in the tree trunk circle must be dug up. After harvesting the plum tree, the tree should be sprayed with 1% Bordeaux mixture or copper oxychloride (30-40 g per 10 liters of water).
This disease appears mainly in trees damaged in winter and with wounds on the bark. An effective remedy Unfortunately, there is no cure for this disease. To prevent milky shine, it is very important to increase the winter hardiness of plums, whiten the trunk and skeletal branches with lime in the fall, and feed the trees after a frosty winter.
Open wounds and cut areas on bark and branches must be covered in a timely manner. If a milky sheen is detected, trees must be uprooted and burned.
Monilial burn (gray rot) Gray rot, or moniliosis, on plums affects shoots and branches, which become brown, wither and look as if they are burnt.
The causative agent of gray rot is a fungus that overwinters on affected fruits and branches. Moniliosis spreads during the flowering of trees by spores that are carried by the wind and insect pests. The disease actively spreads in conditions of high air humidity. As the disease progresses, gray small growths appear on the plum fruits and tree bark, randomly located. First of all, gray rot affects fruits that have damage (from insects).
Concentric circles appear on the surface of the plum - grayish-brown pads with spores. These spores are easily carried by the wind throughout the garden and infect other fruit trees. To combat fruit rot, trees are sprayed with a 1% solution of Bordeaux mixture before flowering. As a preventative measure, all affected fruits should be buried or composted. You also need to control pests that damage fruits, which increases the risk of fruit rot.
Important! After destroying infected fruits, you need to disinfect tools and hands and under no circumstances touch healthy fruits with untreated hands. Spores remain on them, which can easily infect healthy fruits.
A fungal disease, especially active in July, which mainly affects the leaves of the tree. On outside Brown, “rusty” spots, round and swollen, appear between the leaf blade veins. By the end of summer, dark pads form on the spots. Infected leaves weaken, die and fall off prematurely, and the frost resistance of the tree decreases. Before flowering, the plum should be sprayed with a solution of copper oxychloride (40 g per 5 liters of water), 3 liters of solution per tree. After harvesting, you need to spray the plum with 1% Bordeaux mixture. For prevention, you need to promptly destroy fallen leaves in which the fungus overwinters.
Cytosporosis, or infectious drying out, is a very dangerous disease plum, which affects individual branches, and sometimes leads to complete drying of trees. Infection usually occurs in gardens with poor agricultural practices, through areas of dead bark. The infection appears in damaged areas of the bark, develops in the wood and causes the death of living tissue. Under the dead bark, small shiny, black tubercles appear - sporulation of the fungus.
Plum infection occurs during the tree's dormant period: in the spring before the growing season and in the fall after the leaves fall. To combat the disease, a solution of 3% Bordeaux mixture is used, which is used to treat young and pruned trees at the very beginning of the growing season. For preventive purposes, annually, in autumn and spring, during a potentially dangerous period, they are also sprayed with a solution of 3-4% Bordeaux mixture.
Important! In the fall, it is necessary to whitewash trunks and skeletal branches, as well as burn dead branches.
Sharka (pox) of plums are chaotic spots in the form of rings and curved lines on the young leaves of the tree. The causative agent of the disease is a virus - the smallest particle of a living protein substance. Spots appear in the spring, with the development of sharka, the leaves become “marbled”, light green and dark green areas of the ornament are clearly visible. The pulp of infected fruits becomes dense, brown-red and unpleasant to the taste.
Most often, plum trees are attacked by the following insects:
- fruit mite– leads to redness and death of leaves, slows down the process of laying flower buds;
- slimy sawfly– skeletonizes leaves;
- yellow plum sawfly– its caterpillars eat away the fruit pit and eat the pulp, and the young larvae damage the ovaries;
- plum aphid– feeds on young shoots, which leads to weakened growth and curling of leaves, which turn yellow and fall off;
- moth-ripped off– the caterpillars of this butterfly gnaw leaves, buds, and flowers. With their massive invasion, only veins remain from the leaves.
Plum is one of the most commonly planted crops in the country. Not all gardeners are able to care for it properly, which leads to the occurrence of diseases. Some of them are typical for many fruit trees, others are characteristic only of plums. Another problem is pests. To successfully combat both problems, an accurate diagnosis of the causes of changes in the tree’s condition is necessary. However, the most The best way To avoid them - take comprehensive preventive measures.
The plum harvest depends on the health of the tree
Plum diseases
Plum diseases and their control are the most important part of gardening. Among the diseases, there are some that are found everywhere, while others occur extremely rarely. You can defeat them using both proven folk remedies and modern effective drugs.
Clusterosporiasis
Clusterosporiasis is considered the most common disease of plums. Its causative agent is a fungus that hides in the natural openings of the tree outside and in the resulting wounds. Second name
The name of the disease - perforated spotting - speaks of its characteristic feature: brown spots on leaves of different sizes with torn edges. Gradually their number increases, the leaves in these places dry out, and holes form. If the process has gone far, the leaves fall off. Clusterosporiosis often affects fruits and branches, from which the gum leaves. The rapid spread of the disease is caused by the high speed of fungal spores moving through the tree.
Bordeaux mixture helps to defeat the disease, which is applied to the affected and still healthy areas of the tree in several stages, including after harvesting. Depending on the degree of infection, different percentages of the substance are chosen when preparing for spraying.
As a preventive measure, high-quality leaf care brings tangible benefits: timely removal of dried leaves, treatment with copper sulfate.
Moniliosis
The disease is otherwise called fruit rot, which appears as a result of a tree being infected by a fungus. Its spores spend the winter on damaged parts of the plant, and after warming, the fungus rapidly spreads along branches and shoots, gets into the ovaries and spoils the fruits. Manifestations of moniliosis resemble a burn - the diseased area of the tree looks as if scorched by fire. Not only branches and leaves suffer, but also fruits that rot from the inside, externally this is expressed in the appearance of growths. Subsequently, the entire plum on the tree dries out, because the disease is transmitted from one leaf or fruit to neighboring ones.
You can cure plum trees from moniliosis if you spray the surface with one of the following preparations before the beginning of the flowering season:
- Bordeaux mixture;
- copper sulfate;
- iron sulfate;
- fungicides.
Processing must be carried out with increased precautions - ripening fruits should not be touched. Before application special means you should get rid of diseased and old leaves; the same procedure is an effective prevention of moniliosis.
Coccomycosis
One of the typical diseases of plum is coccomycosis, colloquially called red spot, which indicates its main symptom - red spots, although they can be brown and gray. At first they look like small dots on the leaves, then their size grows. Also a sign of coccomycosis - white coating on sheets.
The nature of the disease is fungal. Fungal spores affect all parts of the tree, even ending up on the fruits, which causes their growth to stop. The leaves always dry out and fall off. The fungus tolerates frost well; it can spend the entire winter in old leaves that have not been destroyed since the fall. One of the causes of the disease is improper care; the disease is often detected on young plum trees.
The fight against coccomycosis includes:
- plowing and digging up the ground under a tree;
- complex spraying with Bordeaux mixture;
- lime treatment;
- careful inspection of leaves and, if necessary, destruction of old ones.
Coccomycosis develops on the leaves
Sharka
Smallpox, or smallpox, is viral in nature. The first symptoms of the disease are observed on young foliage - these are light spots or stripes. The virus quickly spreads to fruits, which in a short time change their appearance and taste - they cannot be eaten, they die if they ripen untimely. It was believed that smallpox was spread by aphids.
Fighting sharka is unproductive - all that remains is to get rid of the infected trees. Meticulous processing of equipment, clothing, and all objects that come into contact with plum trees helps prevent the occurrence of the disease, since any object can be a carrier of the virus.
Plum pockets
The source of this plum disease is a marsupial fungus, which attacks not only plums, but also cherry plums. The processes of normal fruit formation are suspended, they change shape, color, and become unsuitable for consumption. The marsupial fungus is especially active during the rains, and in the cold season, fungal spores hide in the buds. For treatment you need:
- remove all infected parts of the tree;
- apply 3% Bordeaux mixture before flowering;
- repeat the procedure after the flowers appear, but with a 1% solution;
- apply fungicides.
Preventive measures to combat pockets include sanitary pruning and treatment with special solutions.
Rust
The name speaks for itself: the disease manifests itself in the form of a brown coating that forms on the leaves on the eve of flowering. The reason is a fungal infection that easily adapts to any climatic conditions, including for winter. If you do not fight the disease, then instead of spots in the spring, large pillows of fungal spores will appear. The consequences may be disastrous - the tree may become barren.
Fungal infection manifests itself as rust on the leaves.
Treatment of rust involves applying any fungicide 20 days before the first fruits appear, this will help get rid of the fungus. After fruiting, it is recommended to treat the tree with Bordeaux mixture. The same method is suitable for prevention. Another option is to grow rust-resistant varieties.
Dwarfism
The disease is identified by altered appearance plums, but often this can only be done in an advanced stage. Then it is quite difficult to cure the tree. Gardeners should inspect the tree for:
- slowing growth and decreasing proportions;
- formation of small leaves;
- drying out, falling leaves;
- the appearance of underdeveloped flowers;
- reducing the number of ripening fruits.
If dwarfism progresses, then the tree has almost no leaves. Fighting the disease means completely getting rid of infected leaves and fruits. Preventive measures to prevent dwarfism infection include the complete destruction of plum pests and the removal of dry and old foliage.
Gum treatment
Plum diseases are not only infectious in nature; a striking example of this is gum disease. The self-explanatory name shows that its main symptom is the leakage of gum from wood. The second name of the disease is gommosis. The root cause of infection is a fungus, which spreads especially actively when there is excess moisture and improper feeding with fertilizers.
Any violation of the integrity of the tree bark also leads to gum development. Gradually the gum hardens, leaving small traces in the form of drops on the trunk. Untreated plums can lead to cancer.
If the foci of the disease are numerous, then it is recommended to combat them with the help of vitriol and treatment with garden varnish. It is necessary to completely get rid of infected branches. Proper care helps prevent the onset of the disease.
Gum discharge appears on plum branches and fruits
soil for planting or insufficient watering during the hot period.
- Methods to combat root cancer:
- careful examination of the roots when planting, getting rid of weak root shoots and growths;
- complete destruction of the diseased plant;
- thorough treatment of the contaminated area of land with copper sulfate; disinfection with formaldehyde of all garden tools
, with which the seedling came into contact.
Plum pests
In addition to diseases, pests cause serious problems for owners of plum trees. Gardeners need to know the typical insect pests by sight. There is a whole range of special means to combat them, but the best way out is to use preventive measures.
Fruit mite Fruit mite - dangerous pest , which is a creature less than 1 cm in size with a round brown body. The tick's limbs cling to plum tree , sucking out all the juices from it, it especially often feeds on young foliage. Ticks live on trees all year round
You can get rid of fruit mites using insecticides and infusions that have a strong odor - mustard, garlic, onions, they must be diluted with water. They should also be used as prevention in the spring. A quality inspection of the leaves and burning of the dried leaves is also required.
Gall mite
This pest settles not only on plums, but also on thorns. According to the description of its appearance, it looks like a worm. The peculiarity of the gall mite is that when it sticks to a tree, it becomes like a wart.
Ticks overwinter well on trees in order to feed on fresh leaf juices in the spring, then they are clearly visible by their red color. In summer, ticks take on a resemblance to tree bark and become difficult to detect.
From parts of a plum tree infected gall mite, it is necessary to get rid of it; treating the diseased tree with sulfur is useful.
Ants
Ants are another problem for plum owners. They feed on delicious fruit juice and are not averse to eating kidneys. Ants are dangerous because their activity provokes the spread of aphids throughout the tree. These insects also dig the ground, damaging the roots. There are several ways to overcome them:
- construction of a protective barrier from scrap materials, the cavities of the barrier must be filled with water;
- applying tar to a tree trunk;
- placing a belt coated with a thick layer of glue around the trunk;
- special toxic substances of chemical composition.
Aphid
Summer residents often wonder who eats the leaves on the plum tree; in most cases, the answer is clear - it’s aphids. Due to its influence, the leaves wither, curl, dry out and fall to the ground. These insects have different colors and are often camouflaged under green foliage. One tree can be attacked by a whole horde of aphids.
Aphids are the most common “guest” on plum trees
The fight against aphids must begin in advance - before the buds appear. When infested with aphids, the following methods are suitable:
- watering dried marigolds with a solution;
- ash is mixed with soap, the resulting mixture is infused for a couple of days, then regular spraying is carried out;
- solutions of citrus peel and laundry soap, a bucket of which is poured onto bottom part tree.
There is nothing more frustrating for a gardener than to watch years of painstaking work and anticipation turn to dust in just one season. Information about plum diseases and their treatment will allow beginners to avoid death fruit crops, and for experienced summer residents to expand their knowledge base.
Description and danger of diseases
Diseases typical of plums also threaten other fruit trees. This is due to the fact that stone and pome crops are susceptible to common ailments. This species pickiness of fungal life forms threatens the integrity of all plantings, even if one plant is affected. Regarding the speed of spread, some diseases can compete with scab and deprive a gardener of a harvest in a short time.
Brown spot
The essence of this disease is reflected in the eloquent name: the symptoms appear in the form of brown, reddish and ocher spots that form on the tissues of the leaves. The plates are also affected by dark spots - spores of the pathogen. In later stages, the color of the affected areas turns brown. The spots spread on the plum leaves, leaving not a single healthy area.
Sick and deprived nutrients the plates curl up and fall off. In addition, the danger of the disease lies in the fact that the fungus spoils the fruits - the development of brown spot provokes deformation of plums and prevents their ripening.
A distinctive feature of klyasterosporiosis is the plum leaves in a hole. First stage The development of the disease is similar to brown spot. However, in in this case dry, depleted areas of leaves crumble, forming holes. The disease affects different parts of the tree. The fruits lose their characteristic shape for the variety, and the affected areas of the branches turn red. All this is accompanied by cracking of the bark layer and can provoke active release of resin.
Attracts attention with its brightness. The vital activity of the fungus that causes this disease colors the affected tissue areas in a red-yellow color scheme. Over time, these formations become denser, acquire shine and turn into growths on plum leaves. Inflorescences fall off, which directly affects the yield. A feature of polystigmosis is that it negatively affects the winter hardiness of the plant.
Bacterial burn
The pathogen begins its activity from the inflorescences, drying them out and turning them brown. The disease then spreads throughout the entire body of the plant, covering the leaves, branches and trunk. The affected crown darkens and becomes curly, the bark cracks and becomes covered with ulcers. At first glance at a diseased plant, it seems that it has suffered from a fire. A bacterial burn spreads quickly enough to as soon as possible settle on all stone fruit crops in the garden.
A fungal disease that got its name due to a deviation in the development of the crown. The vital activity of the pathogen causes mutation and subsequent proliferation of bundles of thin shoots. They are sterile and covered with weak and small leaves with an unnatural color for healthy areas.
There is no clear reason for the plant to secrete a viscous sticky substance. Hommosis is not of infectious origin and is most often a consequence of exposure to unfavorable factors. The release of resin is often accompanied by diseases such as plum cluster blight. In addition, gum discharge can be provoked by:
- a hard winter;
- non-compliance with the rules of crop care;
- unsatisfactory soil condition (high acidity, excess fertilizer and moisture).
Plum dwarfism
A viral disease, the source of which is mainly insect pests. Once in the sap flow system, the pathogen inhibits the development of garden crops. Characteristic symptoms of infection include slow growth and deformation of sheets. They become narrow, and at the tops of the shoots they form clusters in the form of rosettes. Both the skeletal part of the plant and the leafy part quickly die off. Unfortunately, it is impossible to save an infected tree - it is uprooted and burned.
In addition to the crown and integumentary tissues, plum diseases also have a detrimental effect on the fruit. In this case, the fungal infection clearly manifests itself directly on the fruit, distorting its appearance. Crops susceptible to the disease grow fleshy tissues and become deformed. Moreover, such specimens are characterized by the absence of a bone, and they themselves become like a bag.
Depending on the stage of development, the fruits change color from green to brown, after which they become covered with fungal spores that look like a coating of wax.
Coccomycosis
The activity of coccomycosis pathogens occurs in mid-summer. The disease manifests itself in small spots that form on plum leaves. The color of foreign inclusions can vary from brown to purple. As the affected areas grow, the leaf blade turns yellow, darkens and completely dies.
A characteristic feature of the disease, which makes it possible to distinguish coccomycosis from other fungal diseases, is the presence of light pink spores on the back of the leaves. The fruits of a diseased crop are not able to develop and dry out.
milky shine
Beautiful in appearance, but destructive to the tree, it is a disease that affects both leaves and branches with bark. The latter darkens, and fungal colonies form on its surface in the form of purple, orange or brown plates.
The crown takes on a silvery tint, the leaves begin to shine or shimmer like mother-of-pearl. In this case, the branches gradually die off and the tree further dies. Cannot be treated.
The disease, known as moniliosis, has several stages of development. First, the activity of the fungus covers the flower-leaf part of its victim. The inflorescences dry out and fall off, and the dark, shrunken crown looks as if it has been burnt. The next stage is characterized by fruit rot. They develop brown round spots dotted with pimples. gray- spores of the pathogen.
Signs of plum moniliosis can also be found on the bark of a diseased plant in the form of accumulations of monilia spores and streaks of gum. Due to its rapid spread, it is quite difficult to combat the disease.
Fruit rot
A disease similar to moniliosis, accompanied by massive rotting of the crop. Growths of fungal colonies also form on the fruits, but the infection process occurs differently. Fruits damaged by birds or insects most often suffer from rot.
Rust
Infection of a plum is accompanied by the appearance of red-colored elements on the leaves. This disease is characterized by the round shape of the spots, as well as their location between the skeletal veins. Towards completion summer season The red markings darken and thicken, after which the leaves dry out. Rust, like polystigmosis, significantly reduces winter hardiness.
Sooty fungus
Just like powdery mildew, this fungus almost completely covers part of the plant with spores, forming a thick layer of plaque. Due to the color characteristics, this disease is also called niello. Colonies of the pathogen covering the leaf blades interfere with photosynthesis and adaptation of the plum. Hence, general state the tree deteriorates: immunity decreases and growth slows down.
Cytosporosis
The infection can affect both individual parts of the crop and the entire plant. The activity of a pathogen that has penetrated into tissues through cracks and other mechanical damage, causes necrotic processes and drying out of the infected specimen. The presence of shiny black formations under a layer of dead bark - characteristic feature cytosporosis.
Sharqa or smallpox
The first signs of smallpox are symptoms characteristic of chlorosis, namely: a change in leaf color in the form of a marbled pattern. Dents appear on the surface of the plums, the pulp darkens, thickens and loses nutritional value. Since sharka is caused by a virus, it is useless to treat it.
Video “Signs of plum blight”
From this video you will learn about plum blight and how to treat it.
Control measures and prevention
Almost all curable diseases of fruit trees are caused by various microscopic fungi. Therefore, if holes, spots, compactions and an unnatural coating suddenly appear on plum leaves, then it is appropriate to effective method All infected parts will be removed followed by antifungal treatment.
In the case of this crop, care and strict adherence to instructions are required, since the plum is highly sensitive to copper and its compounds.
Experienced gardeners have experienced by their own example the rule that best fight- this is prevention. Compliance with the minimum requirements of agricultural technology will allow you to maintain the health of the garden with minimal effort. This requires:
- “feed” the plant correctly;
- prepare for winter;
- control pest populations;
- regularly carry out preventive treatment with fungicides;
- if necessary, thin out the crown and treat the cuts with varnish;
- keep tools clean.
You can grow a plum in the garden and harvest delicious fruits every year if you know the secrets of agricultural technology. Some plum diseases and the fight against them are described here, and photos are to help the gardener. It is easier to prevent any disease at the stage of care and prevention. It is impossible to eradicate all sources of disease once and for all; they are embedded in Nature’s program. But people have learned to contain and prevent viruses and fungi from entering their garden.
Classification of plum diseases
Before you pick up a knife or sprayer, you need to figure out what ailment has visited your favorite plum tree. Diseases are divided into three types according to their distribution and effect:
- fungal;
- bacterial;
- viral.
Non-communicable diseases can also be caused by improper care. Let's look at photos of plum diseases and the fight against them.
If plum leaves suffer from rust, you need to remove juniper and anemone from the garden.
Fungal diseases
Fungal diseases are transmitted from tree to tree when the foliage is dense and does not have time to dry out from rain and dew for a long time. In warm, humid summers, fungal spores brought from outside take root in tissues and create mycelium. A few days - the disease is already in charge, eating fruits and foliage. Examples of such diseases are plum blight, cluster blight, and rust.
Often a tree suffers from more than one disease. Fungicides destroy any fungal diseases, there are drugs with systemic action. For insect pests and diseases, different substances are used.
Experts consider moniliosis or moniliosis to be the most dangerous disease. A sign of the disease is the immediate drying out of individual branches. The leaves turn black, but do not fall off, the fruits continue to develop. The infection also penetrates into the fruit if there are scratches or wounds on the skin, causing plum disease - gray rot fruits Spores are transmitted from one berry to another by touching. As a result, the crop is destroyed and it will take a long time to eradicate the infection. The fungus lives in fruits and fallen leaves; after overwintering, it will begin to multiply again in the spring.
Another disease that can leave the owner without a harvest is marsupial disease, or plum pockets. A sign that the disease will manifest itself is long flowering, a long fruit is poured, which remains green for a long time, turns brown, dries out and falls. Only fruits are affected.
Viral diseases
Viral diseases are terrible for any plant. Look at the photo of viral diseases of plums; the fight against them so far consists of using systemic drugs. The disease affects the vascular system and is transmitted by leaf-eating and sap-sucking insects. For plums, a terrible disease is sharka or smallpox. It can even move to a tree from clover. To others viral disease is chlorotic ring leaf spot. At the same time, the leaves become lighter, the shriveled blade becomes full of holes, and the tree becomes depressed. Leaf curl may appear. Any modification of the leaf blade of a seedling should alert you when purchasing.
Bacterial diseases
Bacterial diseases are caused by microbes and bacteria transmitted with planting material and tools. Bordered small spots appear on the leaves. The inside of the plate dries and crumbles, and on the outside a clear border is visible and the leaf around it becomes lighter. The fruits are covered with black and brown spots. The plums become inedible and fall off.
It happens that bunches of thin twigs appear on the branches - a witch's broom. This is mycoplasmosis. An infectious coating forms on the leaves below.
Non-infectious diseases include those caused by careless pruning when the gum tree tries to heal the wound. Therefore, caring for stone fruit trees should be as gentle as possible. All of a sudden, the plum may begin to dry out. The reason lies in the close standing groundwater, freezing or the soil is not suitable for the tree. 
As you can see, any of the plum diseases weakens the tree and deprives the harvest, and their treatment must be timely so that the tree does not die.
Prevention and folk remedies to combat plum diseases
Prevention of plum diseases lies in the correct choice of location for the tree. The soil must be fertile, the plant must receive feeding and preventive treatments. To get rid of breeding grounds for diseases, leaves from the garden are not used in compost, they are burned. The barrel needs to be revised and then whitened. Tree trunk circle keep clean, free from weeds.
There are no recipes for combating plum diseases traditional methods, only special ones can handle them chemical substances. Even preventive spraying in the spring should be carried out using copper-containing preparations.
Video about stone fruit diseases