Diseases of cherries: what to do for treatment, how to process to combat them

Diseases of sweet cherries in the absence of adequate measures on the part of the gardener can cause a decrease in yield or death of the fruit tree. There is a certain list of the most dangerous species of fungi and pests for crops, each of which is easy to identify and choose the right way to fight. To exclude cherry diseases, it is enough to know about the first symptoms of an anomaly in the growth of a tree and measures to prevent diseases.

Causes of tree diseases

Cherry trees are subject to a certain list of diseases, the appearance of which is most often associated with a violation of the rules of care or the influence of abnormal weather conditions. The appearance of signs of disease should force a review of the growing conditions and make adjustments.

Improper care

It is important to choose the right planting site and soil for planting. The risk of poor growth and tree diseases increases many times in the following situations:

• wetland landing;
• close groundwater flow;
• excessive fertilization;
• unsuitable soil;
• low light;
• violation of landing technique, insufficient or excessive penetration.

Diseases can be caused by the lack of preventive spraying in the spring with drugs against fungal diseases and pests, the refusal to whitewash the trunks. Excessive watering, untimely or incorrect pruning of shoots can also cause disease.

Unsuitable climatic conditions

Success for good cherry fruiting and growth often lies in choosing the right variety. For cold regions, only winter-hardy species that can withstand low temperatures should be selected.

Neighbourhood with infected trees

Cherry belongs to the "capricious" trees, as it most often suffers from the neighborhood with other fruit crops. She does not like the neighborhood of apple trees and cherries, she is able to quickly adopt the "infection" from nearby shoots. At the first sign of infection, immediate action is required, since in a fairly short time the problem can affect all plantings of sweet cherries.

Types of fungal-bacterial infections and ways to deal with them

Some of the ailments of a fungal nature can be dangerous and untreatable, so at the first sign of he alth problems, urgent action should be taken, otherwise planting fruit trees may die.

Clusterosporiasis, fungal disease of sweet cherry perforated spot

The disease infects trees in the spring, the first symptoms are expressed in the appearance of small brown spots with a reddish border in the border area. Formations can be observed on leaves, formed buds and inflorescences. The affected areas dry out and fall out over time, and instead of them holes are obtained.

Infected berries change appearance and become ugly. The pulp of the berries stops growing and dries up completely, reaching the surface of the stone. The infected tree stops growing and begins to bear fruit poorly.

To combat the disease, timely removal of foliage and branches with signs of anomaly is required. Sections must be treated with a 1% solution of copper sulphate and covered with garden pitch. For treatment, spraying procedures with 1% Bordeaux liquid are carried out.The frequency is as follows:

• at the time of bud ripening;
• after 3 weeks from the end of flowering.

After removing the infected parts for treatment, it is effective to treat with Horus. Instructions for use are always attached by the manufacturer when selling, so the rules for preparing the solution must be studied in advance.

Bacteriosis or cherry cancer

A disease of a fruit tree of a bacterial nature more often affects trees in the age range from 3 to 8 years. Microorganisms get on fruit trees with the help of rain and gusts of wind, in the cold period they hibernate in the bark or buds. Symptoms of the disease are as follows:

• cancers appear on the twigs;
• where the bark bursts, gum stands out;
• leaf plates and berries are covered with dark spots, the edges of which are framed by a yellow border;
• brown formations appear on the stalks.

Over time, the wood of infected trees dies, the leaves fall off. The danger of bacteriosis lies in the fact that there are no means of combating the effects of bacteria. There are varieties of sweet cherries on the market for horticultural crops, the breeding qualities of which allow them to be more resistant to cancer. The risk of infection decreases in warm years without excessive rainfall. Nitrogen fertilizers and limited watering of the fruit tree will help reduce the likelihood of disease.

Gommoz

Gommosis manifests itself in the form of gum formation on the trunks and fruits of the tree. The danger lies in the fact that in this way fruit trees throw all their strength into fighting the disease, as a result of which the plants wither.

There are many reasons for the appearance of gummosis, so it is important to find out the main one to fight the disease. Possible options include:

• cold damage;
• excessive nitrogen fertilization;
• an excess of growth regulators;
• passion for phytohormones;
• mechanical damage.

To fight, use the mechanical extraction of the affected area, after which the wound is treated with copper sulphate and covered. Such work must be completed a few weeks before the onset of cold weather in the fall, which will allow the tree to recover.

Chlorosis

Trees growing on soils with an excessive content of chalk and calcareous rocks are most susceptible to chlorosis. Groundwater lying close to the surface of the earth also increases the risk of disease.Infected plants grow poorly and, as a result of a lack of minerals, are characterized by poor synthesis of chlorophyll. The result is reduced fruiting and, in extreme cases, death of the fruit tree.

The first signs of chlorosis are the following manifestations:

• leaves begin to curl;
• green mass changes color and acquires a light shade;
• the plant is starting to look weak and sick.

This kind of problem occurs when manure, superphosphate, potash supplements are applied to the soil excessively, so you should work with such fertilizers carefully. The situation can be corrected by nitrogen-containing preparations, compost and peat. It is enough to apply such funds into the soil 2 times a year with the calculation of 5 kg per square meter.

For prevention in early spring, the tree is sprayed with a solution of iron sulfate, dissolving 300 g of the product in 10 liters of water. In mid-July, a second treatment is carried out, reducing the concentration of the active substance to 30 g.

Powdery mildew

Fungal disease mainly affects young cherry shoots, and the risk of infection is high during the cutting procedure. The consequence is a slowdown in crop growth and early leaf fall. Description of the fungus influence process:

• white bloom appears, localized mainly on leaves and shoots;
• gradually powdery formation becomes grayish;
• leaves change their appearance and dry out over time.

To combat the fungus today, a fairly large number of various targeted drugs are presented. The most common include:

• Strobe;
• "Topaz";
• "Phytodoctor".

A good effect in the fight against the disease shows a three-time treatment with a break for 15 days with a 2% solution of colloidal sulfur or 2% lime-sulfur decoction.

Coccomycosis or reddish-brown spotting of cherries

The first symptom of infection with coccomycosis is the appearance of spots on the leaves, which have a reddish tint. After some time, they become brown, the green mass begins to fall off. During the first years, the fruit tree is sick, then it stops forming berries. Numerous spots on the leaves, weakening the plant, can eventually cause the death of the tree.

The fight against the fungus begins in early spring, the beginning of the process of swelling of the kidneys indicates the possibility of work.

The first treatment is carried out with copper sulphate, a solution is prepared with the calculation of 300 g of the product per 10 liters of water.At the time of flowering, Bordeaux liquid is used. For the purpose of treatment, drugs are used to counteract coccomycosis - Horus or Hom. For better adhesion of the solution to the liquid, experienced gardeners introduce laundry soap, the treatment is carried out carefully in those places where dark spots are concentrated.

Moniliosis or gray rot of cherries

The first signs of a problem are changes in the color of the shoots and twigs of sweet cherries, which turn brown. Black dots spread rapidly, and the effect of exposure to fire appears on the surface of the bark. In some places, gray growths form and cracks form, from which gum is actively released. Chaotically located formations are also formed on the berries. Symptoms of the disease are the following signs:

• fruits are cracking;
• begins the process of rotting berries;
• cherries are drying up.

The causative agent of moniliosis is a fungus that lives in the cold period in dried fruits. It is possible to get rid of the disease only if the infected foliage and shoots are destroyed in a timely manner. Prevention is autumn whitewashing, and fungicides are used to combat the fungus.

Brown spotting, phyllosticosis

A disease of a fungal nature manifests itself in the form of small brown spots on the leaves of a tree. Numerous black dots cause the green mass to dry and fall off. To counteract such a fungal infection, fallen leaves should be collected and burned. During the garden season, the tree is treated several times by spraying with special preparations. For these purposes, solutions are used:

• 1% Bordeaux liquid;
• 1% copper sulfate;
• Nitrafen.

The first spraying is done before the buds open. The second procedure is repeated 2 or 3 weeks after the cherry has completely faded. To enhance the effect in case of severe infection of the plant, after 2 weeks it is desirable to carry out the treatment with the Hom fungicide. When using chemicals, it is important to follow the safety rules, work only in special clothes and protect the mucous membranes from the solution. Fix the result will allow autumn spraying with 3% Bordeaux liquid after the leaves have completely fallen off.

Scab

The disease manifests itself in the form of numerous dark spots on the greens and fruits, the leaves are wrapped in the form of a tube and dry up. In parallel, the affected berries rot and lose fluid. To fight using mechanical and chemical methods.In the first case, the affected areas are removed and destroyed by fire.

To fight and prevent further infection, a triple treatment with 1% Bordeaux liquid is used - at the time of bud formation, at the end of the flowering process and a month before harvest.

Cyllindrosporosis, white rust

Rust leads to leaf fall, yellow crowns thin out already in the middle of the garden season. A fungal disease affects a layer of wood, ulcers form on it, from which gum is released. The bark of the cherry acquires a black-brown color. The plant weakens and cannot tolerate low temperatures, as a result it dries out in the spring.

To prevent the disease, the removal of diseased branches is required. It is necessary to treat emerging wounds in a timely manner, carrying out stripping, disinfection of the lesion site and covering the wounds.

Mosaic ringed sweet cherry

Mosaic disease has a viral nature and leads to a decrease in the immunity of the fruit tree. Formations appear on its leaves in the form of yellowish stripes, localized along the lines of the veins. As the plates become infected, they begin to curl, turn brown and fall off.

Mosaic ringing leads to the formation of small light rings on the leaves, which later crumble, and holes form in their place.

Infection with the virus occurs as a result of the vital activity of harmful insects, due to vaccination with diseased cuttings or pruning with tools that have not been previously disinfected. The disease cannot be treated, therefore, only preventive measures are used in the form of pest control and the exclusion of the main causes of the appearance of mosaic ringing.

Cherry gum flow

Gommosis and gum disease are the names of the same disease, so the causes of their appearance are the same. When there is a problem, gum appears on the tree, which resembles glue and has a bitter aftertaste, resembling resin in consistency.

Such formations can appear on fruits and leaves, but are more often observed on the surface of the trunk wood. Most often, this situation leads to the inability of the tree to survive frost or mechanical damage. Resin deprives the tree of vital juices and attracts harmful insects, which negatively affects the growth of sweet cherries.

Ways to prevent diseases

In order to prevent, it is important to control the growth of the plant, and take timely action when the first signs of an anomaly appear. Good preventive measures are:

• cleaning and destruction of foliage, cut branches and rotten berries by burning;
• timely pruning and proper formation of the crown of the tree;
• loosening the root area;
• carrying out preventive spraying before flowering, after it ends and after harvesting;
• increase plant immunity.

To increase the plant's resistance to various diseases and environmental influences, treatment with special preparations - "Ecoberin", "Zircon" can help. An important factor in preventing diseases is compliance with the rules for growing and caring for the plant.

What pests are sweet cherries

Wormy cherries have been seen by many gardeners, pests can affect not only the fruits, but also the leaves of the tree. The main dangers include the invasion of the following insects:

• fruit mite;
• aphid;
• weevil;
• leaf beetle;
• leaflet.

You can get rid of the invasion of worms with the help of special preparations of directed action. Spraying is carried out several times a season, adhering to the manufacturer's recommendations.

Insecticides and pesticides

Processing a fruit tree from pests involves spraying work. To do this, prepare solutions that process the entire plant as a whole. In most cases, 3 irrigations per schedule is sufficient.

The first is carried out before the formation of buds, the second after the end of flowering and the last no more than 20 days before picking the berries.

The feature of modern insecticidal drugs is that the drugs allow you to deal with several pests at once. It is enough to perform one preventive spraying to ensure the protection of the tree from the invasion of various types of insects. Recommendations for use, information about the direction of the drug's action are always indicated in its instructions. Popular products include Karbofos, Kemifos, Fufanon, Inta-Vir.

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