A Detailed Guide to the Latest Control Methods for Cherry Gummosis

Gummosis is an important disease of cherry, mostly occurring in spring, and this disease is a serious headache for growers: in mild cases it weakens the tree vigor, and in severe cases it causes the branches to gradually die off, resulting in huge losses. So how should this disease be controlled? Let's take a look together.

I. Disease Symptoms

Gummosis mainly occurs on the main trunk and main branches of cherry, with the main trunk being the most prominently affected. In the early stage of the disease, the diseased part swells and continuously exudes translucent yellow gum, and the gumming is especially severe after rain. After the exuded gum comes into contact with air, it turns reddish-brown; sometimes several gum beads connect together to form round, irregular gummosis spots of varying sizes, appearing jelly-like, and after drying they form hard gum blocks. After the diseased part is infected, the epidermis and xylem turn brown and rot, causing the tree vigor to weaken, and in severe cases causing the branches or the entire plant to die.

II. Causes

There are many causes of cherry gummosis. For example, incompatibility between rootstock and scion makes the wound difficult to heal after grafting, resulting in gumming. Trees with weak vigor are also highly prone to gumming; trees with poor vigor have poor nutrient circulation, resulting in insufficient nutrient distribution, and some nutrients fail to reach the designated locations, instead flowing out laterally and causing gumming. A heavy fruit load on the tree, which consumes relatively more nutrients, or excessive pruning and unreasonable pruning cuts can also cause gumming. When the root system is infected by disease, gumming can also occur; when the plant is infected with bacterial diseases, gumming is produced as the necrotic spots expand and deepen.

III. Control Methods

To control gummosis, work must be done on multiple fronts. First, strengthen fertilizer, water and soil management; pay attention to increasing the application of organic fertilizer, appropriately increase the application of phosphorus and potassium fertilizer, and control nitrogen fertilizer application in the middle and late stages to enhance tree vigor; do a good job of drainage during the rainy season to reduce humidity. During the period of vigorous leaf growth, plant nutrients can be used to promote growth, increase chlorophyll and enhance the plant's nutrient capacity. Pruning should be reasonable to regulate the contradiction between vegetative growth and reproductive growth, ensure tree vigor and temperature, and promptly apply fungicides to pruning cuts to promote wound healing and reduce bacterial infection. After cherry harvest, promptly clean the orchard; after fruit set, the plant consumes relatively more nutrients, so nutrients need to be supplemented in time to restore tree vigor, ensuring sufficient nutrient return before leaf fall and reducing gumming.

  The above is an introduction to the control methods for cherry gummosis. We hope it can help you. For more related knowledge, please stay tuned to us.