A Complete Guide to the Prevention and Control of Crown Gall Disease in Cherry Trees

The cherry is a fruit tree with relatively high economic value. As market demand has expanded in recent years, its planting area has also continued to grow. During cultivation, however, it is subject to pests and diseases, and crown gall disease is one of the major diseases of cherries, bringing increasingly serious harm as cherry cultivation develops. Let's take a look below at the prevention and control techniques for crown gall disease in cherries.

1. Symptoms

Crown gall disease, also known as root knot disease or crown gall, mainly affects the plant's root system and root crown. When it occurs, tumors of varying sizes appear. In the early stage of the disease, grayish-white spherical gall-like growths appear on the affected part; these tumors have a rough surface and a soft interior at first, and later the interior becomes woody, the color gradually deepens, and the texture becomes hard. These tumors cause the plant's transport tissue to become lignified, affecting the normal absorption and transport of nutrients and water, and over time the tree vigor weakens, fruit quality declines, yields drop, and eventually the plant gradually dies.

2. Disease Pattern

Its pathogenic bacterium overwinters in the tumor tissue. When the outer layer of the tumor ruptures, the bacteria are washed down by rain and irrigation water into the soil, where they can lie dormant for more than a year. They continue to spread through the plant's root system as it absorbs water and nutrients, or through insects, but the greatest means of spread is through bacteria carried on nursery stock. When planted in sandy loam, neutral or slightly acidic soil, the disease generally does not occur; if planted in clay soil, poorly drained soil, or alkaline soil, the disease is more severe. High soil moisture also induces this disease. If the plant's root system has wounds, the pathogen invades through the wounds and can form tumors in a short time.

3. Prevention and Control Techniques

First, choose bacteria-free nursery stock for planting. Before planting, strict quarantine and disinfection of the nursery stock must be carried out to reduce the incidence of the disease. Deeply plow the soil and increase the application of organic fertilizer to strengthen tree vigor and improve the plant's disease resistance. At the same time, apply appropriate amounts of topdressing and foliar fertilizer, and pay attention to supplementing trace elements, while using less herbicide and paclobutrazol. Water promptly during drought and drain promptly during the rainy season. At the same time, do a good job of controlling underground pests so that they do not bite through the root system and create favorable conditions for the pathogen to invade. After discovering diseased plants, promptly dig out the diseased roots, scrape off the tumors and burn them, then apply copper sulfate solution and lime sulfur mixture for disinfection.

The above is an introduction to the prevention and control techniques for crown gall disease in cherry trees. We hope it helps you. To learn more related knowledge, please stay tuned to us.