A Detailed Guide to Identifying and Controlling Common Diseases of Plum Blossom

Plum blossom, as a plant that blooms in winter, has a long history of cultivation in our country and ranks first among the ten famous flowers of China. It inspires people with its noble, strong and modest character. Plum blossom not only has extremely high ornamental value, but its flowers, leaves, roots and seeds can all be used as medicine, with effects of relieving cough and diarrhea and promoting body fluid and quenching thirst. Plum blossom has strong vitality, but when planting it is also inevitably troubled by diseases. Below, let us look at the control methods for common diseases of plum blossom.

1. Plum blossom anthracnose

Plum blossom anthracnose mainly harms the plant's leaves and young shoots. When the disease occurs, chlorotic spots appear on the leaves and gradually turn brown, with the lesions nearly round or irregular in shape. In the middle stage of the disease, the center of the lesion is grayish white with concentric rings. In the late stage, black spore spots form on the lesions, and under high temperature and high humidity conditions orange-red conidial masses overflow, causing the leaves to perforate and fall off.

Control: When disease is found, promptly remove the diseased branches and leaves, then spray carbendazim. Once a week, for 3-4 consecutive times, and it can be cured.

2. Plum blossom shot hole disease

Shot hole disease mainly harms the leaf parts of the plant and occasionally spreads to the branches. When the disease occurs, a large number of scattered lesions appear on the leaves, nearly round in shape. As the disease develops, brown mold spots appear on the lesions. In the late stage, the lesions easily wither and fall off, causing many shot holes to appear on the leaves. When the disease is severe, it causes the leaves to fall off and affects the normal growth of the plant.

Control: Do a good job of shaping and pruning to increase ventilation and light penetration. When the disease occurs, carbendazim or thiophanate can be sprayed for control, also once a week, for 3-4 consecutive times.

3. Plum blossom leaf curl disease

Leaf curl disease generally occurs when plum blossom buds sprout, that is, from March to May, when the temperature is suitable for the reproduction and growth of spores. They invade the plant's leaf buds and young shoots. This causes the young shoots to become short and thick, the leaves to wrinkle and thicken, the leaf surface to be rough, and the leaves to curl backward. When the disease occurs, the leaves are yellow, red, purplish red or grayish white, with white powdery substances appearing. When the disease is severe, the branches and leaves die.

Control: When the plant sprouts, spray Bordeaux mixture or zineb for prevention. When the disease occurs, spray thiophanate or carbendazim, once a week, 3-4 times, and it can be cured.

4. Plum blossom powdery mildew

Powdery mildew generally occurs under conditions of high temperature and high humidity with poor ventilation. When plum blossom buds sprout, the young buds and new leaves are infected by the pathogen. This causes a white powdery layer to appear on the diseased parts, followed by black or yellow granules appearing on the powdery layer. In the late stage, the leaves wither and yellow and then die.

Control: In the early stage of the disease, spray triadimefon or thiophanate-methyl for control.

The above are the common diseases of plum blossom and their control. We hope it can help you. To learn more about plum blossom cultivation knowledge, please follow us.