Cytosporosis of the apple tree: treatment and prevention, what kind of disease and symptoms

Treatment of apple cytosporosis requires compliance with a number of features. To cope with this violation, you can use mechanical or chemical means. In addition to standard procedures, it is permissible to use folk recipes. At the same time, treatment gives an effect only in the initial stages of the development of pathology. To avoid the development of the disease, preventive measures should be taken.

What is this disease

Cytosporosis is an infectious fungal pathology that often affects fruit trees. This is a very dangerous disease that provokes the drying of the bark of a tree.Under the influence of fungal toxins that are released during life, the bark dries and acquires a spongy texture. After some time, it becomes darker and dies off.

The causative agent of cytosporosis

Cytosporosis is provoked by fungal microorganisms - Cytospora copitata Sacc et Schnalz and Cytospora carphosperma Fr. Pathology affects trees of any age. Burns and cracks act as a focus for infection. The pathogens are spread by wind or insects. They thrive in high humidity.

Signs of tree infection

Pathology becomes noticeable during the flowering period or later - in early summer. First of all, the state of the cortex changes. It forms characteristic mounds 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. With the development of the disease, the flowers dry and rust.In this case, the bark acquires a red-brown or orange hue. Sometimes it turns green and bloated.

The spots are growing rapidly. As a result, they encircle the branch. The bark almost does not pass juices and often dies off. Foliage and flowers dry around the affected area. The bark becomes darker. It often develops ulcers. In difficult situations, wood suffers. In the affected areas, cracking and gum secretion are observed.

Mismatched

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 cortex. In addition, with cytosporosis, the cortex acquires a spongy structure. At the same time, it does not exfoliate, as with black cancer.

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

What is the danger for the apple tree

Cytosporosis is one of the most serious diseases. Sap flow is carried out exclusively in the cortex. When it is defeated, the tree fragment does not receive useful elements, and therefore dries up.

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

Effective control measures

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

Processing aids

There are many effective chemicals that help to cope with cytosporosis. Also, mechanical methods of struggle are highly effective.

Mechanical treatment

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

The skeletal fragments need to be examined in detail. If part of the bark is damaged, you can try to save the branches. If there is a phenomenon of interception, the shoot is removed completely. In case of damage to wood, any branch must be cut. If the trunk is damaged, the apple tree is highly likely to die.

Chemicals

When 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 start eliminating cytosporosis in early spring.For the first time, the apple tree should be sprinkled before the formation of leaves. At this stage, it is recommended to use copper sulfate. Its concentration should be 3%. The trunk circle must be treated with a solution of ammonium nitrate with a concentration of 10%. It is also permissible to use a solution of urea 7%.

At the stage of swelling of the kidneys, it is permissible to use Hom's solution. For 10 liters of water, it is recommended to take 40 grams of the drug. It is also permissible to use colloidal sulfur with a concentration of 1%.

The next treatment is carried out before flowering trees. At this stage, a solution of copper sulphate 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. For the third time, it is worth processing the tree immediately after flowering is completed. In this case, it is worth using Homa's solution.

Folk recipes

In addition to chemicals, effective folk recipes can be used:

1. Means based on clay and mullein. These substances must be taken in equal parts. To use the product, the affected area must be well cleaned and sprinkled with copper sulphate. Then apply the composition and wrap with a rag.
2. Composition based on vitriol, rosin and kerosene. The remedy helps at the initial stage of a fungal infection. To do this, mix rosin, vitriol and kerosene in a ratio of 3: 1: 1. In this case, it is not necessary to clean the affected area. It must be smeared with the compound using a hard brush.

Features of antibiotic treatment

You can treat the disease with the help of antibacterial drugs - Streptomycin and Tetracycline. To do this, it is recommended to treat damaged areas with solutions with a concentration of 2-4%. It is also permissible to spray the crown and give 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 open. The cut area should be lubricated with copper sulphate with a concentration of 3%. To avoid getting bacteria and spores of fungal microorganisms into 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 with an interval of 3-4 years. Systematically remove affected branches. Moreover, it is forbidden to leave stumps from cut trees. In conditions of high humidity, fungal spores actively multiply on them.
2. Burn fallen fruits, leaves, flowers. Clean the broken areas and treat with vitriol. Then cover with a layer of clay and mullein or use putty. This helps to increase the resistance of the tree to frost and strengthen the immune system.
3. Disinfect tools with kerosene. It is also acceptable to use formalin.
4. Whiten trunks and plexuses of branches with a solution of lime. This helps to avoid sunburn.
5. Systematically loosen the soil under the tree. This saturates the roots with moisture and oxygen, and also helps to cope with pests.
6. Avoid drying out the soil.
7. Systematically fertilize poor soil. At the same time, nitrogen agents are recommended to be applied in a minimum amount. It is better to use potassium and phosphorus.

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

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