Symptoms of peach gum flow and methods of treatment, prevention
As a child, everyone tried resin on fruit trees and did not realize that this was a disease, not a delicacy. The reason for the appearance of glue is a violation of the integrity of the bark. Chronic leakage of the sticky mass weakens the tree and leads to death. At the first symptoms, it is necessary to treat gum disease in a garden peach, cherry, plum. And in the future - to prevent the disease.
What is gommosis?
The secretion of a sticky mass on tree trunks is a disease called gummosis (gum). Mainly stone fruit plants suffer: peach, cherry, plum.
Trees react to various types of damage. The process takes place in young wood. Cambium does not form new elements of the cortex outside and inside. The biological work of cells is disrupted. As a result, new cells appear, inside which starch accumulates.
Over time, the amount of intercellular substance increases, and the membrane does not withstand, cracks. Then the cell membrane and starch dissolve. As a result of the decay, a liquid, sweetish mass flows out onto the surface of the trunk and solidifies, forming a gum.
Why does glue appear on the peach
The reasons for the appearance of a sticky mass on a peach can be:
- fungal or bacterial infection;
- agrotechnical violations;
- climatic conditions;
- damage by pests.
Chronic release of glue weaken the vitality of the plant. Therefore, gum therapy needs treatment.
Fungal or bacterial infection
Mechanical damage to the peach bark causes the gum to leak. If bacterial, fungal organisms enter the wound, they only intensify the disease. Causative agents can be:
- stone fruit cancer;
- bacterial burn;
- clasterosporium disease;
- moniliosis.
Signs of gommosis are detected in all parts of the peach: on fruits, trunk, branches.
Violation of cultivation techniques
A violation of agricultural technology can provoke a disease:
- incorrectly selected soil. The disease develops on acidic soil. The favorable environment is heavy, floating clay soils;
- oversaturation with fertilizers, especially nitrogen elements;
- excessive watering;
- high humidity;
- excessive pruning;
- incompatibility of the scion with the stock.
The bark cracks and a sticky mass is released.
Climatic conditions
The release of resin is aggravated under unfavorable climatic conditions:
- excessive moisture is accompanied by cold;
- in autumn, heavy rains are replaced by cold weather;
- sunburn;
- freezing of a peach in winter;
- frost breakers;
In the spring, at the first symptoms, treatment is started.
Damage by pests
Pests violate the bark layer, thereby provoking the disease.
Wrinkled sapwood. Beetles and larvae harm the tree. Insects make holes in the bark up to 2 millimeters, lay eggs, and die themselves, closing the puncture with their body. The larvae hibernate in tunnels under the disturbed surface layer. In the spring, they open the holes and go out. Over time, resin appears in the wounds, gum flow begins.
Rodents do considerable harm to trees, destroying the bark. As a result, a disease is provoked - gommosis.
Plum moth. Caterpillars eat the flesh of peaches, filling the voids with excrement. Solidified gum appears in the holes.
How to treat peach gum
When a thick mass appears, special attention is paid to wounds and cracks. The adhesive is thoroughly cleaned to a living tissue. A working solution is made: 100 grams of copper sulfate are added to 10 liters of liquid. Treat wounds, cracks. As soon as the trunk dries up, it is whitened with a composition: copper sulfate, clay, lime. Next, determine the cause of the disease and eliminate it.
Also, wounds are treated with garden pitch. It prevents rotting and drying out. Large wounds are covered with clay and mullein. If fungal diseases are the provocateur of the disease, Horus is used, a systemic drug. In the fight against the plum moth, Fitoferm is used.
How to prevent gum flow
Gommosis disease can be avoided. For this, a number of complex measures are carried out:
- Winter-hardy peach varieties are used in cold regions.
- Select the right soil, acidity level.
- Before wintering, the soil is insulated with spruce branches, the trunk is wrapped in paper, planks. Fencing and insulation will warn against rodent attacks, temperature changes in spring.
- They carry out comprehensive measures against diseases and pests.
- Trees are whitened in time to prevent burns.
- Peach feeding should be balanced.
- During pruning, the tool is disinfected and the cuts are treated with garden pitch.
- For fungal diseases, rub the trunk with sorrel leaves. After drying, they are treated with garden varnish. The procedure is repeated three times.
- In spring, when the buds swell, trees are sprayed with Bordeaux liquid or copper sulfate.
- For beetles, Fufanon is used as soon as they begin to fly. The trunks and branches are thoroughly moistened.
After such procedures, the tree will not suffer.
