Apricot pest and disease control measures

Moniliosis

If you notice that your trees during the flowering period seem to be after a fire, and even before that the temperature has dropped sharply, do not rush to blame everything on the latter, because the cause of such an unpleasant phenomenon is often the fungal disease moniliosis. Naturally, the temperature played a significant role too, because it promotes the reproduction of the monilia fungus, which penetrates the flower pistil, which causes the bud, leaves, twigs to dry out. In appearance, the consequences of the disease are similar to a monilial burn. 

It is still possible to save your harvest from such an unpleasant phenomenon. First, watch the weather closely. Secondly, do not forget to treat the trees with Horus, Mikosan-V, Bordeaux mixture, Skor or preparations that contain copper in late autumn, early spring and in the period after flowering. Thirdly, remember, as soon as you see the signs of a monilial burn on one fruit tree, immediately treat all the others, because the fungus multiplies very quickly with the help of wind, rain, insects.

Experienced gardeners unanimously insist that apricot diseases arise as a result of a lack of minerals, for example, calcium. But sometimes - and from an overabundance of substances in the soil.

If you are late in processing the trees and the fungus has infected your tree, you should prune the infected areas, and also tear off the fruit and burn everything together. In no case do not leave a rotten crop on the apricot, because this fungus is able to multiply further and infect everything around. There are also conditions in which the parasite does not survive - this is a temperature of -20 degrees and a timely whitewashing with a mixture of copper sulfate.

Breeders are working to develop apricot varieties resistant to moniliosis, but so far, with varying success, they have managed to reach an average in such as: Dzhengutaevsky, Red-cheeked, Red-cheeked late, Kuban black, Tamasha, Black velvet.

Valsa mushroom

The next apricot disease is the Valsa mushroom. The name itself is associated with everyone's favorite ballroom dance. But this is not accidental, the bacteria of the fungus multiply according to the scheme of waltzing guests (infections) with the owners (streams of water).

The fungus manifests itself in the form of orange nodes that grow on the branches of the apricot and in the bark. You can recognize an infected object by stunted yellowing leaves and dried-up branches. An infectious disease occurs as a result of a parasite entering the wounds of trees. In this regard, it is not recommended to prune fruit during the dormant period. A fungicidal spray is used to keep the soil under the tree drained.

Bacterial spot

The most common disease in all climatic zones where apricot grows is bacterial spot. As soon as you see dark watery spots on the leaves, sound the alarm.After all, further they will begin to dry out and turn yellow. Fruits, contaminated with bacteria, are covered with brown spots, which increase in size every day.

To protect the apricot from spotting, it is necessary to carry out a crop rotation, that is, sow many plants around that are not amenable to disease. It is also worth carrying out weed control around the tree. Before planting seeds, you need to check if they are infested with spots. For prevention, it is necessary to spray the plants with copper sulfate.

Verticillosis

One of the very harmful and insidious fungi is verticilliasis, since it is a soil parasite that infects everything in the circle. As a result of this type of disease, the tree can be fatal. The withering process of apricot leaves begins at the bottom, and as a result, green leaves can only be seen at the top.

It is recommended to fight this pest at an early stage, as soon as the disease has begun. Some of the best drugs for treatment are: foundationol, previcur, vitaros and others.

Cytosporosis

A fungus that lives between the bark of the tree and the wood and manifests itself with brownish-brown spots - cytosporosis. The leaves begin to wither from the top, the bark is taken in dark streaks. Over time, the disease moves downward, affecting all branches and the trunk in its path. The affected branches dry up, and the tree itself dies behind them.

There is one type of varieties that does not lend itself to defeat - jardels. And all the rest must be treated with the timely removal of dry branches so that the spread of diseases does not occur in the future. But it must be remembered that not a piece of the affected bast should be left to stop the process. And it is also very dangerous for all gardens to leave dry trees in a circle, because this threatens to become infected with a severe infection.

Hole spot

A disease that is very common in the south is perforated spot. Previously, almost all apricots were infected with it. Leaves and fruits are the first to fall under the "distribution". They become covered with reddish-brown spots, which after 1-2 weeks turn into holes, and after a while leaf fall begins.

The fruits are affected by reddish-brown spots still in green form, and by the time they should have ripened, complete deformation occurs.

In order to cure the apricot and not infect the rest of the trees, it is recommended to cut off the foci of the carrier of the infection and burn them. Disinfect wounds and cracks with garden putties with the addition of copper or iron sulfate. And the main thing is not to forget about prevention in autumn and early spring - spraying with 5% Bordeaux liquid, after flowering - 1%, and during the period of premature leaf fall, apply soil fertilizer.

Gum therapy

Gum removal, or gum, is one of the diseases of apricot, in which a large number of trees become infected, and over time it increases even more. To carry out the treatment, it is necessary to cut off all the affected areas of the tree, disinfect it with a solution of copper sulfate. Then process the trimmed site with garden broth.

Summing up the above, we conclude that before planting an apricot orchard, it is simply necessary to study fruit diseases and methods of their treatment.

Video "Features of growing apricots"

The recordings tell about how to protect the apricot from pests and diseases, as well as how to properly plant and care for the tree.