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

Plum blossom, a plant that blooms in winter, has a long history of cultivation in our country and ranks first among the ten most 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 salivation and quenching thirst. Plum blossom has strong vitality, but it is also inevitably troubled by diseases during planting. Below, let us look at the treatment methods for common diseases of plum blossom.

1. Plum Blossom Anthracnose

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

Treatment: When the 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 later stage, the lesions tend to wither and fall off, causing many shot holes to appear on the leaves. In severe cases, the leaves fall off, affecting the normal growth of the plant.

Treatment: Do proper shaping and pruning to increase ventilation and light penetration. When the disease occurs, spray carbendazim or thiophanate for control, likewise once a week, for 3-4 consecutive times.

3. Plum Blossom Leaf Curl Disease

Leaf curl disease generally occurs when plum blossom is budding, that is, from March to May, when the temperature is suitable for the reproduction and growth of spores, which will infect the leaf buds and tender shoots of the plant. This causes the tender shoots to become short and thick, the leaves to shrink and thicken, the leaf surface to become rough, and the leaf blades to curl backward. When the disease occurs, the leaves are yellow, red, purplish red or grayish white, with white powdery substances appearing. In severe cases, the branches and leaves die.

Treatment: When the plant is budding, spray Bordeaux mixture or zineb for prevention. When the disease occurs, spray thiophanate or carbendazim, once a week, and 3-4 times can cure it.

4. Plum Blossom Powdery Mildew

Powdery mildew generally occurs in environments with high temperature, high humidity and poor ventilation. When plum blossom is budding, the tender 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 particles on the powdery layer. In the later stage, the leaves wither and die.

Treatment: 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 treatment. We hope it can help you. To learn more about plum blossom cultivation, please stay tuned to us.