Apple cancer: what to do for treatment, control measures and resistant varieties

One of the diseases that can affect an apple tree is cancer. If the disease is not recognized in time, the tree dies. In addition, the infection quickly passes to neighboring fruit trees. Therefore, it is important to know the first signs of damage, find out the cause of the appearance and ways to deal with each stage of cancer. You can buy effective remedies in the store or make your own according to folk recipes.

Disease types

There are several types of cancer that affect apple trees.

Black

Initially, small black dots become noticeable on the trunk. Gradually they grow, the bark turns black and falls off. The leaves also become blotchy, causing them to drop prematurely.

Regular or European

Dark spots with a white sheen cover the roots and branches of trees. Then growths of a dark brown color appear, the bark begins to darken and fall off.

Root

After infection, growths form on the roots, which rot and spread a large number of bacteria. Most often, this type of cancer leads to the death of the tree.

Bacterial

This type of cancer most often affects ovaries with fruits and branches. The leaves become spotted, curled and dry. The fruits darken, shrivel and rot.

Who is the causative agent

Apple cancer is caused by bacteria and fungi that have entered damaged areas on the tree.

Factors and optimal conditions for infection

There are several provoking factors that increase the risk of contracting apple cancer.

Positive temperature

In most cases, cancer occurs in early spring. Active reproduction of the fungus occurs at air temperatures above +22 degrees. Spores survive even in a heat of +40 degrees.

Poor quality trees

Older trees are more prone to cancer. Such apple trees have reduced immunity, so there is no strength to resist the infection. Active reproduction of the fungus begins.

Spores are quickly spread by a gust of wind to neighboring, he althy trees.

Incorrect care or lack thereof

One of the main reasons for the development of cancer is improper care. Irregular watering, lack of fertilizers, violation of the pruning techniqueprovoke the disease. Apple trees that are affected by pests and diseases are most susceptible to cancer.

Over-grooming

Often the cause of cancer is excessive care of apple trees:

• With an excess of micronutrients in the soil, a breeding ground for pathogens is created.
• With frequent watering, the immunity of the plant decreases.

This is why it is so important to establish a regimen for caring for fruit plantings.

Wrong fit

Seedlings should be planted according to all the rules:

• Keep a certain distance between trees.
• Prepare the landing pit properly.
• Prepare the ground.

A drainage layer is laid at the bottom of the planting pit, nutrients are introduced. If the soil is acidic, liming is carried out.

Description of the course of the disease

Apple cancer is difficult to recognize in the early stages of development. Periodically, all trees should be inspected for unusual manifestations.

By what signs the disease is diagnosed

If the disease develops, unusual symptoms may appear on different parts of the apple tree. The tree begins to wither and shed its leaves.

Kora

When detecting wounds and cracks on the trunk, they should be examined carefully. In cancer, there are black dots around the wound in circles.

When the infection is actively developing, the signs are easily distinguished. The bark is covered with deep depressions of purple and black. The affected area is deformed, cracked.

Flower

During the flowering period, a sign of cancer will be a change in the appearance of the inflorescences. Petals are covered with brown spots and stripes. Inside, the inflorescence begins to turn black and twist.

Fruit

Small brown spots begin to appear on the fruits, which gradually become larger. The sign becomes noticeable only when the fruits enter the ripening stage.

As a result, the whole inside of the apples rots and they fall to the ground. Not all rotten apples fall. Even after the leaves have completely fallen off, black, shriveled fruits hang on the branches.

Leaf

Already during the period of leaf blooming in spring, spots become noticeable on the leaves.At first, the spots are small in size with a brownish-red tint. With the development of the disease, the spots grow and become darker. The leaves dry up and fall off. The tree begins to sharply shed its leaves long before the onset of cold weather. As a result, the quality of the crop is reduced. The fruits rot and are not stored well.

What is dangerous for a tree

The disease leads to a decrease in fruiting, a deterioration in the quality of the fruit. If left untreated, the tree will gradually die.

Is the disease dangerous for humans?

For the human body, apple tree cancer does not pose any danger. Apples from diseased trees can be eaten as long as they are clean and have not begun to rot.

Apple treatment methods

What to do when a problem is found? You should immediately start looking for an effective way to fight. There are a number of steps you can take to fight cancer.

Cleaning

Sick bark is removed. Using a knife, cut out the entire area, capturing about 2 cm of he althy bark in a circle. Be sure to cut dry, affected branches, remove bad leaves and collect rotten fruits.

The collected parts of the affected tree are burned or carried away from the garden. If it is decided to remove the entire tree completely, then the roots should be dug as deep as possible.

Wound disinfection and isolation

The section of the trunk cleared of bark is disinfected with a solution of copper or iron sulfate, potassium permanganate and brilliant green. Then the area cleared of the fungus is treated with garden pitch, drying oil or oil paint. These components protect the wound from moisture and air.

Apple processing

A tree stricken with cancer is completely sprayed with blue vitriol. The use of other products that contain copper is also allowed. After complete disinfection, the wound is smeared with a mixture of clay and mullein.

Garden processing

To completely destroy the infection, the entire garden should be treated with antifungal agents. For a while, you should refrain from near-stem digging of the soil. This will avoid the appearance of wounds and cracks on the roots.

What remedies are effective in the fight against the disease

In the fight against infections, chemicals and natural components of folk recipes help. The main thing is to follow the recommendations for dosing and breeding. The products used can be used to kill spores, disinfect wounds, and fertilize the soil to boost immunity.

Antifungals for humans

There are gardeners who treat apple tree cancer with the antifungal agent Nystatin. The drug destroys fungi that live on the human mucosa. Therefore, it is not advisable to treat plants with medicine.

Copper products

For disinfection, it is effective to use copper-based preparations. Effective remedies include copper sulphate, Bordeaux liquid, Kuproksat, Khom, Tsikhom, Oksikh. There are universal drugs that fight viruses, bacteria and fungi: Alirin, Fitosporin, Topaz, Fundazol, Gamair, Strike. Such drugs penetrate into hard-to-reach places, destroying spores.

Stem injections

A cancer treatment option involves the use of the antibiotic Streptomycin. The treatment action plan includes several stages:

• A hole 2.5 cm deep is drilled in the trunk at the level of a meter from the ground. A site is chosen, near which there are no wounds and cracks so that the medicine does not leak out.
• A special system is purchased that allows you to introduce a medicinal solution into the barrel using a hose.
• After the injection of the drug, the hole is closed with a stopper.
• Injections are repeated at weekly intervals five times.
• The introduction of the solution must be done in each branch, the diameter of which is more than 16 cm.

The injected drug is distributed in different directions by two meters.

Antibiotics

Useful "Tetracycline" or "Streptomycin". The solution can be prepared from any form of release of antibiotics.

In the first year of treatment, Streptomycin is used. A pre-cleaned wound is sprayed with a liquid medicinal solution. Processing is carried out three times per season. In the second year of treatment, the drug is replaced with "Tetracycline". To dilute the solution, two antibiotic tablets are useful, which are dissolved in water.

Folk remedies

Compositions of folk recipes are considered effective.

Clay and mullein mix

Components are taken in equal proportions. A thick layer of the resulting mixture is applied to the affected area. Then the place is bandaged and a layer of the mixture is applied again. Leave such a bandage for the whole season, periodically moisten with water.

Rosin, wax and nigrol

Each component is taken in equal proportions. It is recommended to apply several layers of the mixture to the damaged area with a certain time interval.

Garden soil

A small portion of garden soil is treated with fungicides, moistened with water and applied to the damaged area.

Terms of treatment

It will be possible to completely cure an apple tree from cancer in a few years. The timing largely depends on the stage of the course of the disease and the degree of spread.

Prevention measures

Prevention measures include:

• only he althy shoots and seedlings are chosen for planting and grafting;
• to maintain immunity organize regular feeding;
• should be trimmed and cleaned annually;
• whitewash will help protect the barrel from burns and infections;
• trunks should be protected from winter frosts;
• the trunk zone is periodically weeded from weeds and loosened.

Following all the tips and tricks, you will be able to avoid the appearance of cancer.

Cancer resistant varieties

Varieties resistant to black cancer are: Alva, Anis, Alesya, Papirovka, Jonathan, Borovinka, Rubin, Autumn Joy.

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