Common Peach Tree Disease Symptoms and the Latest Control Methods
Peach trees are planted across an extremely wide area in China, and peaches are also a fruit deeply loved by the general public, with a good appearance, plump and juicy flesh, and rich nutrition. However, peach trees encounter many diseases during cultivation, and if these diseases are not controlled properly, they can bring a devastating blow to fruit growers. So what diseases do peach trees have? Come and take a look with the editor at the control methods for these diseases.
1. Scab
Scab is one of the main diseases of peach trees. We have all surely seen scars large and small on peach trees; they are left by scab. It mainly occurs during the fruit ripening period from May to July, and is prone to occur in rainy and humid climate conditions. It mainly harms the fruit and treetops. When the disease occurs, dark green lesions appear on the fruit, and the lesions constantly change as the fruit grows. When the fruit ripens, the lesions turn dark purple or black, the lesions become sunken, and in severe cases, fruit cracking symptoms occur. After the treetops become infected, light brown lesions appear, and as the lesions expand, the diseased area bulges and gummosis also occurs.
Control methods: In winter, clean up infected treetops, clean the orchard to reduce pathogens, prune appropriately to increase the ventilation and light transmission of the plants, and during budding, spray agents such as carbendazim, zineb, and chlorothalonil for a relatively good preventive effect.
2. Anthracnose
Anthracnose mainly occurs during rainy periods in autumn, is prone to occur during the young fruit stage of peach trees, and is more severe in warm and humid environments. It mainly harms the fruit. When the fruit becomes infected, water-soaked lesions appear on the skin, the lesions expand and turn reddish brown, the diseased area becomes sunken, and there are concentric ring-like wrinkles in the center. When humidity is relatively high, a large number of sticky small dots are produced on the lesions, and finally the fruit rots and falls off or remains on the tree as a mummy fruit.
Control methods: Select varieties with strong disease resistance according to local conditions, strengthen fertilizer and water management, apply more phosphorus and potassium fertilizer to improve plant disease resistance, pay attention to drainage and waterlogging prevention, and reduce soil moisture. Thoroughly clean the orchard in winter, burn or deeply bury diseased branches, residual branches, diseased and residual fruits, and fallen leaves in a centralized manner, and bag fruit in time to control this disease. When the disease occurs, spray agents such as chlorothalonil, mancozeb, and thiophanate-methyl for control.
3. Gummosis
Gummosis is also one of the main diseases of peach trees and can break out during periods of slightly higher temperatures. It mainly harms the branches and trunks of peach trees. When the disease occurs, small raised spots appear on the branches and trunks, and generally no gummosis occurs in that same year. By the second year, these small raised spots rupture and flow out colorless, semi-transparent, sticky soft gum. Sometimes it also harms the fruit, and after the fruit becomes infected, yellow gelatinous material flows out.
Control methods: Strengthen fertilizer and water management to improve plant disease resistance, prune scientifically and reasonably, pay attention to flower and fruit thinning to reduce load, and in the disease season, spray agents such as thiophanate-methyl, mancozeb, and benomyl wettable powder to prevent this disease. Note that agents should be used alternately to avoid the plants developing resistance, which would make the disease more severe later.
4. Mosaic disease
Mosaic disease is a disease of many plants, and its harm is relatively great. Peach trees are mainly infected with this disease through grafting. In addition, aphids and mites can also spread this disease. After the fruit becomes infected, growth is slow, the flesh is not sweet, and it has a bitter and astringent taste; after leaves become infected, some show mixed yellow and white colors, or re-emerging chlorotic spots, and most show yellowing and curling.
Control methods: Promptly clean up diseased plants when found locally, and also strengthen pest control work in the orchard to avoid large-scale spread of this disease by pests.
The above are the common disease symptoms and control methods of peach trees. We hope this can help you. If you want to learn more about peach tree cultivation knowledge, please stay tuned to us.