Cherry diseases: description and causes, treatment and measures to combat them

Today, almost every garden plot of Russian gardeners can be found planting cherries. The versatility of the fruits of this tree makes it indispensable, since the berries can be eaten fresh, used as a raw material for making compotes, jams and desserts. At the same time, all efforts can be nullified with cherry disease, so it is important to know about the first signs of plant infection.

Why cherry is sick

A fruit tree can be weakened due to a disease, the ability to bear fruit is reduced significantly, and if left untreated, the plant may die.There can be many reasons for the appearance of plant he alth problems, but they are all associated with the wrong variety, care or neglect of preventive measures.

Unsuitable climatic conditions

The key to the proper growth of sweet cherry and cherry varieties is the right choice of variety. For regions with a cold climate, it is worth choosing only winter-hardy varieties for planting, otherwise you should not count on the survival of the plant and a good yield of the crop. When choosing, you should pay attention to the following characteristics of the culture:

• ability to withstand low temperatures;
• stress resistance to return frosts;
• attitude towards excess moisture or excessive rainfall;
• property of self-fertility;
• disease resistance.

It is worth giving preference to zoned varieties, as they are adapted for growing in specific areas. In the Moscow region, good growth and fruiting rates are observed in the following cherry varieties - Bulatnikovskaya, Shokoladnitsa, Anthracite.

Improper care

For good growth and yield of a horticultural crop, it is important to follow the rules of care. Excessive moisture and lack of timely pruning increases the risk of disease. Improper feeding and excessive fertilization leads to the same problems.

Cherry needs to be planted in a well-lit area with sufficient light. Even slight shading can affect plant growth. Trees can be planted in spring and autumn, it is important to follow the recommended planting pattern for a particular variety.

Insufficient distance between two trees will lead to thickening and poor ventilation, resulting in a significant increase in the risk of disease.

Unfavorable neighborhood with carriers of infections

When planting cherries on the site, it is important to take into account its compatibility with other fruit trees and shrubs, since a “unfavorable” neighborhood increases the risk of diseases at times. Tomatoes and peppers are considered dangerous crops for her, as they have common enemies. Do not plant cherry trees next to birches, oaks and maples.

Classification of diseases

All existing descriptions of cherry diseases can be classified into one of three categories - fungal, bacterial, viral. Each of them is characterized by certain symptoms that can be easily identified by the appearance of berries, leaf blades and shoots.Some of them can lead to loss of leaves and death of the tree.

Fungal

Infection of plants with a fungal disease can destroy from 50 to 60% of the crop. Their classification is quite extensive, most often cherry trees are subjected to scab, coccomycosis and rust. The anomaly can affect the fruits and affect the appearance of the leaf plates; in some cases, the layers of wood crack. Fungal spores survive the winter period in fallen leaves and mummified fruits. In this regard, preventive measures involve burning them and spraying the plant with special preparations.

Bacterial

Bacterial diseases develop when cherries are infected with unicellular microorganisms through damage to shoots and green mass. Infected plants are often covered with a white coating, rot or a burn effect appears. Some types of bacteria are able to calmly tolerate temperatures up to +25 ^{C and survive sub-zero temperatures.}

They can be carried by natural precipitation, wind, people and garden tools. Bacteria are often companions of aphids and mites. The main tool to prevent the disease is to follow the rules of cultivation and the timely application of insecticides to control pests.

Viral

Viral diseases are associated with infection of plants by micro-organisms without cellular structure, which are spread by sucking pests. When viruses enter cherry tissues, they begin to parasitize, which leads to weakening of shoots, inhibition of development and reduced yields.

The risk of increased infection with viral diseases increases during natural disasters, as a result of which damage appears on the cherry, and it begins to dry.

Common diseases and how to deal with them

Today there are a large number of cherry diseases, but each can be identified by external changes in the cherry tree. The list of required actions depends on the nature and cause of the infection.

Coccomycosis

The fungus infects the leaves, in which reddish dots form on their surface. Over time, they begin to spread and occupy the entire area, eventually merging with each other. With a significant level of humidity, a pink bloom can be observed on the back of the sheet. The affected areas die and fall off, the leaves crack, and traces of lacerations appear on them.

The consequence of coccomycosis is a drop in yield and, in the absence of measures, the death of the plant. For treatment, spraying with a 4% solution of Bordeaux mixture and mechanical removal of lesions are used. There are varieties of cherries that are resistant to fungal disease - Chocolate, Minx, Novella.

Moniliosis

Diseases of a fungal nature are often also called gray mold or monilial burn. Infection occurs through damage to the bark layer and develops at the time of formation of inflorescences. Whitish pustules appear on the petioles and the lower surface of the leaf plates. Over time, brown spots appear, spreading over the entire surface of the leaves. The fruits are covered with yellow pillows, and their massive fall begins.

Treatment consists in removing damaged fruits, shoots and burning them. Spraying with fungicides is carried out, in some cases repeated repetition will be required. It is possible to choose one of the following varieties - "Azocen", "Topsin", "Horus".

Clusterosporiasis

It is quite difficult to get rid of clasterosporiasis on cherries, as the fungus affects all parts of the plant.Spots appear on the leaves, which are brown in color with a reddish border framed. Lesions fall out, forming gaps, so the disease is often called perforated spotting.

The tree is covered with spots, where gum is released at the place of formation. The buds acquire a glossy sheen and turn black. The fight against the fungus consists in pruning and burning the affected areas. Spraying 3% Bordeaux liquid will help save cherries, destroying fallen leaves and fruits.

Anthracnose

The disease belongs to a variety of fungal. Pale dots appear on the fruits, which, growing, take the form of bulges of a pinkish hue. With insufficient moisture, the cherries dry out, turn black and begin to fall off. For treatment, spraying with fungicides, for example, Polyram, is carried out. The first treatment is done before and after flowering, the second is repeated after 15 days.

Rust

With this disease, cherry leaves are affected, yellow spots appear on them. Over time, they increase in size, the affected area swells and acquires a dark powdery coating. The leaves begin to curl and the plant weakens, frost resistance or fruiting quality may decrease. If timely action is not taken, then the cherry begins to dry out. In order to combat infection, Bordeaux liquid is sprayed and plant residues are burned in a timely manner.

Scab

A disease of fungal origin affects the leaves and berries of cherries, on which black velvety spots appear. The area of damage is bordered by a yellow stripe. At first, the anomaly appears on the leaves, but over time, dark formations spread to the fruits, which begin to crack, and their development stops.To combat scab, use a 1% solution of Bordeaux liquid, spraying cherries before flowering, after and a month before harvesting.

Gommoz

A characteristic sign of gommosis is the appearance of gum secretion. A common cause of resinous formations is damage to the shoots, the plant getting sunburned, or its inability to endure frost. In some cases, infection with fungal microorganisms leads to the disease.

Treatment is to remove the damaged parts of the plant, which are then burned. The places of cuts are covered with garden pitch, having previously treated them with a 1% solution of copper sulphate. A good preventive measure is the off-season whitewashing of cherry trunks.

Preventive measures

Even the most disease-resistant varieties of cherries without preventive maintenance, if the rules of care and cultivation are violated, they will not be able to resist, and infection will happen sooner or later.In the presence of mechanical damage, frost injuries or sunburn, the risk of problems increases significantly, so the influence of such factors should be excluded. Often the cause of fruit tree disease is rodents that damage the root system of cherries and to its weakening, so their presence in the plot should be controlled.

Preventive measures include:

• timely pruning, elimination of old, damaged and rotten branches;
• treatment of wounds and cracks with garden pitch;
• protection from pests and rodents;
• spring whitewashing trunks.

Strengthening the immunity of cherries will help fertilizing with fertilizers. Without fail, such work is carried out in the autumn, calculating the consumption rate depending on the manufacturer's recommendations. For 1 m^{2 they bring into the ground:}

• manure - 5 kg;
• potassium chloride solution - 150 g per 10 liters of water;
• superphosphate solution - 300 g per 10 liters of water.

To prevent disease, trees are sprayed with fungicides. Work is carried out three times a year. The first procedure is done before bud break, the second after flowering, the third at the end of the garden season a month before picking berries.

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