What causes yellowing and dieback in peach trees? The latest analysis is here

Peach tree yellowing is the most common disease in peach tree cultivation. It not only affects the growth of peach trees, but also has a major impact on peach tree yields. So what are the causes of peach tree yellowing? Let's take a look at the detailed introduction.

1. Diseases

Root diseases are an important cause of peach tree yellowing. When peach trees suffer from crown gall, southern blight, root rot and other diseases, the roots' absorption of nutrients and water is hindered, which weakens the tree vigor and, in severe cases, causes the plant to die. In addition, canker disease on the branches and trunk obstructs nutrient transport, causing partial yellowing. As winter cold damage leads to root crown rot from time to time, symptoms of weakened plants and yellowing also appear.

2. Fertilizer deficiency

Iron deficiency and nitrogen deficiency in plants can both cause yellowing. Among these, yellowing caused by nitrogen deficiency is relatively rare, while there are many causes of iron deficiency in plants. When planting density is high, the land area occupied by each tree is small, roots interweave with one another, and the iron ions in the soil cannot meet the roots' absorption needs. In addition, affected by soil pH, iron ions in neutral and slightly alkaline soil are fixed by hydroxide ions, forming insoluble ferric hydroxide that cannot be absorbed by the roots, causing iron deficiency in plants.

3. Improper pruning

After fruit harvest, excessive pruning can cause yellowing. Before harvest, the fruit is supplied with organic and inorganic nutrients for its growth, and root growth is inhibited. After the fruit is harvested, the roots urgently need the leaves to provide organic nutrients. If pruning is too heavy at this time, many branches and leaves are lost, so less nutrients are synthesized through photosynthesis. As a result, the roots do not have sufficient nutrients for growth and cannot absorb more nutrients to feed the aboveground parts, causing yellowing.

4. Herbicide and fertilizer damage

Many fruit growers use pesticides improperly when controlling pests and diseases, which causes pesticide damage to plants and leads to yellowing. Most pesticide damage is related to herbicides, commonly including glyphosate, paraquat and others. In addition, applying too much chemical fertilizer and too little organic fertilizer during fertilization can cause soil compaction, serious loss of soil fertilizer and water, and low organic matter content, affecting the decomposition and release of soil nutrients and also causing plant yellowing. Also, using the wrong type of fertilizer, such as applying field crop fertilizer to fruit trees, can cause yellowing and drying up. For example, applying potassium chloride to peach trees can cause chloride ion poisoning in the root system.

The above is an introduction to the causes of yellowing and dieback in peach trees. We hope it helps you. To learn more related knowledge, please keep following us.