What to Do When Young Fruit Trees Suffer from Twig Blight? Causes and Preventive Measures

In winter, when temperatures are cold, most young fruit trees begin with the current-year shoots of the canopy, gradually losing water and drying up. This phenomenon is called twig blight. Twig blight causes the canopy to become incomplete and the tree shape to become disordered, delaying fruiting, and in severe cases the aboveground parts will all die. So what causes twig blight in young fruit trees? How should it be prevented? Let's take a look together.

I. Causes of Twig Blight

Because young fruit trees grow vigorously and stop growing relatively late, the water content in their cell tissues is high. After being hit by cold winds in winter, their twigs are dried out. When fruit tree branches are damaged by the green leafhopper in autumn, the cortical tissue of the branches is destroyed, reducing their water-retention capacity and causing twig blight in spring. Around the time fruit trees bud in spring, winds are strong and temperatures are high, so the aboveground tissues of young trees lose a large amount of water through evaporation, but the soil temperature is relatively low and root activity is poor, so the water absorbed cannot meet the needs of the branches, which can also produce twig blight.

II. Preventive Measures

1. Enhance the water-holding and water-retention capacity of branches

During management in the growing season, ways should be found to enhance the absorptive capacity of the root system. This is the foundation and prerequisite for preventing twig blight in young trees over winter.

2. Spray potassium fertilizer

In autumn, a potassium phosphate or potassium dihydrogen phosphate solution can be sprayed once every 15-20 days, for a total of 3 sprays. This can enhance the photosynthetic intensity of the leaves, prompt the branches to stop growing, increase the bound water content of the branches, and strengthen their water-holding capacity.

3. Pinching

During the vigorous growth period in autumn, a 15% paclobutrazol solution diluted 300-1000 times can be sprayed. This can effectively inhibit new shoot growth and increase the content of starch, total nitrogen, soluble sugar, and soluble nitrogen in the branches, prompting an increase in the bound water content of the branches.

4. Prevent and control pests and diseases

Throughout the entire growing period, pest and disease reproduction should be strengthened and the leaves should be protected, especially the leaves in the later stage. This is of great significance for branch maturation and nutrient accumulation.

5. Increase water supply

Winter irrigation can be carried out at the appropriate time. This is one of the important measures for preventing twig blight in young fruit trees over winter. After the ground freezes in the coming year, early spring is relatively dry and soil evaporation is high, so irrigation at this time can also alleviate twig blight. Generally, irrigation is done when the soil thaws, which can both help the soil thaw as quickly as possible and replenish soil moisture.

6. Reduce transpiration water loss from branches and trunks

After many years of experiments and production observations, reducing transpiration water loss from branches and trunks is the most effective measure for preventing twig blight. In the past, the method of laying the tree down and burying it in soil was often used, and the effect was very good, but it was time-consuming and labor-intensive, and very likely to break or damage the branches and trunks. Now plastic film wrapping of branches and trunks and application of anti-transpiration protective agents are mostly used.

  The above is an introduction to the causes and preventive measures of twig blight in young fruit trees. I hope it can help you. If you want to learn more related knowledge, please follow us.