Black spots on apple leaves: what is this disease, how to treat and what to do

Many reasons for the appearance of black spots on the leaves of the apple tree. Most often, the symptom is associated with infection with an infection. Fungi, bacteria or viruses act as the causative agent. Other symptoms may appear at the same time. It is important to establish the correct diagnosis immediately after the discovery of the problem and begin the correct treatment. Preventive measures will save the fruit tree from re-infection.

Black spots on apple leaves

When infected with various infections, a whole complex of symptoms manifests itself.The appearance of black spots or dots is characteristic of several types of diseases. Increased attention should be paid to the problem and the most effective method of dealing with it should be found. Otherwise, the quality and quantity of the crop will decrease, and in some cases the problem may lead to the death of the tree.

Less often, the appearance of black spots is associated with improper care. The symptom appears when there is a lack or excess of micronutrients or when the watering regimen is not properly organized.

What diseases provoke blackening of foliage

The reasons why black dots appear on the leaves lie in diseases such as scab, bacterial burn or apple tree cancer. Even a young apple tree can show similar symptoms.

To determine what kind of disease struck the tree, you need to conduct a thorough examination.

Study the structure of the spots, the prevalence of infection (determine whether fruits, bark, branches are affected). Based on the totality of symptoms, an accurate diagnosis can be made.

Signs of disease

The signs of the disease include not only the blackening of the leaves. Most diseases are accompanied by the following set of symptoms:

• death of individual sections of the bark, change in appearance, appearance of cracks;
• rolling and drying leaves;
• premature leaf fall;
• fruit rot;
• appearance of dry branches.

Each disease is different, has distinctive features and requires an individual approach in the development of treatment.

Bacterial burn

You can detect the disease already during flowering:

• The buds turn dark brown and fall off.
• Leaves wither, blacken and curl. They hang like they're burned, but they don't fall off.
• The fruits are tied badly, black dots appear on them, which quickly increase in size. As a result, apples dry and hang on branches until autumn.
• The bark softens, covered with white spots that look like mold.

Infection quickly moves to he althy trees. If you do not start the fight against the disease, then in two years all the trees will have to be uprooted.

Black Cancer

Black cancer refers to fungal diseases. The spores are most active in hot, humid weather. Symptoms can appear on any part of the tree:

• dark brown cracks are found on the bark;
• black spots are noticeable on the surface of the leaves, over time the leaves dry up and fall off;
• fruits turn black, shrivel and dry out.

Most often, old, weakened trees are exposed to infection. But in case of improper care or other provoking factors, even a young seedling can get sick.

Ringspot

Viruses become the causative agent of the disease. The disease should be suspected by noticing the following symptoms:

• leaves are first covered with yellow spots, and then the places turn black;
• black rings form on leaf plate and fruits;
• the tree stops developing and growing.

The disease is difficult to treat. Therefore, it is important to prevent infection by providing proper care.

Scab

Fungal disease gets its spread in rainy, cool weather. With the advent of spring, spores begin to multiply actively and affect all parts of the tree.

First, gray-green spots appear on young leaves. Over time, it is found that the leaves are completely blackened, withered and fell off. Black spots on the fruit increase in size, as a result, the apple rots.

Sooty plaque

Fungal infection causes black soot deposits to appear on the surface of leaves, fruits and shoots. All damaged parts of the plant stop absorbing air and light.

Lack of magnesium and manganese

Micronutrient deficiencies are often the cause of leaf spots. With a lack of magnesium, the leaf plate between the veins first turns yellow. Then black spots appear. Affected leaves fall off, fruits are formed small and not tasty.

With a deficiency of manganese, the edges of the leaves first begin to turn yellow, and then the entire plate, the veins remain green. Then dark spots appear and the leaves fall off.

Terms and technology of processing

In each case, their own ways of dealing with what to do with the problem. The growing season, the age of the tree, the causative agent of the disease, the prevalence of the infection are taken into account.

Bacterial diseases

How to deal with bacterial infections? In most cases, the fight is carried out with the help of antibiotics. Make solutions based on drugs such as Streptomycin, Tetracycline, Gentamycin, Kanamycin. Bactericidal biological products also help: Gamair, Fitosporin, Gaupsin, Pentafag.

Fungal lesions

In case of fungal diseases, solutions based on preparations containing copper are effective: "Skor", "Topaz", "Hom". Spraying the crown with Bordeaux liquid helps.

Viral infections

There are no drugs against viral diseases. Therefore, agricultural practices should be observed:

• pruning should be done in February;
• all removed parts of the tree must be burned;
• when a problem is detected, reduce the application of phosphorus and nitrogen;
• it is recommended to use Epin or Zircon preparations for spraying the crown;
• Pest control is a must.

All these preventive measures will help increase the plant's immunity.

What drugs to use

When determining how to treat apple trees, you need to take into account the causative agent of the disease and the season of processing. Processing is carried out with biologically active agents, chemicals and formulations based on folk recipes.

How to keep your garden from re-infestation

In order to prevent re-infection, trees should be properly cared for. It is important to apply the necessary trace elements in time, remove damaged and dry branches, weed the area around the trunk from weeds.

Prophylactic treatment of the entire garden

Care for apple trees differs depending on the season. Preventive measures will reduce the risk of developing and spreading the infection.

Spring

Spring treatment is carried out before bud break. For spraying use a solution based on "Zircon". Remove dry and damaged branches. Wounds and cracks are covered with drying oil or garden pitch. The soil is disinfected with a solution of urea and ammonium nitrate. Immediately after flowering, treatment should be carried out with such preparations as Kuprozan, Zineb, Horus, Hom, Vectra.

Summer

In summer, with the arrival of consistently warm weather, trees are treated with fungicides: Gamair, Raek, Fitolavin, Zircon, Fitosporin.

Autumn

In autumn, all fallen leaves are raked up and removed away from the garden or burned. The trunks need to be whitewashed, and the near-stem zone should be deeply loosened. Spraying with a solution of copper sulfate is also recommended.

Proper care and fertilizer

Proper care of apple trees includes the following items:

• digging and weeding near the trunk zone;
• setting the watering regime;
• crown formation;
• cropping;
• preventive treatment for pests and diseases.

It is important to fertilize on time. The apple tree is being fed:

• organic (manure, humus, bird droppings);
• mineral fertilizers (urea, ammonium nitrate);
• microfertilizers (boron, manganese).

Each type of top dressing should be introduced at a certain time, observing the dosage.

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