Causes of the appearance of brown spots on the leaves of an apple tree and how to treat the disease
The appearance of brown spots on the leaves of the apple tree is a common problem that occurs during the growing season. Defects on the green part of the crown of trees can lead to further death of the plant and a decrease in the amount of harvest. Having found spots, you should understand the cause of their occurrence and perform a set of actions to save fruit plantations.
Causes of brown spots
To get rid of darkening foliage, it is necessary to correctly establish the cause of the disease. As a rule, small dots are formed due to the development of a disease or unfavorable environmental conditions, a fungus. Having found out what kind of disease or other factor affected the leaves, it remains to carry out the appropriate treatment of the trees.
Fungal Infection
The main cause of leaf rust is fungus. Darkening appears along with spores of nearby plantations. First, tissue proliferation occurs, and star-shaped outgrowths are formed, on which new spores are formed, carried by the wind to fruit trees.
Copperhead and mineral deficiency
If a tree is damaged by copperhead or if there is an insufficient amount of minerals in the soil, the leaves become covered with a dark bloom and fall off. Most often this happens when the wrong landing site is chosen.
Scab
Development scab on apple trees contributes to an unsuitable place on the site, excessive soil moisture and low temperatures.
The disease is more common on young seedlings that have not had time to adapt to the environment.
Weather
Unfavorable weather often leads to the appearance of dots on the leaves of apple trees in the northern regions. Prolonged frosts, a large amount of rainfall and insufficient illumination provoke the development of rust on trees.
Lack of feeding and fertilization
For the correct and healthy growth of trees, it is necessary to provide the soil with the necessary amount of fertilizers and vitamins.
The consequences of rust disease and the cycle of its development
Rust on an apple tree occurs over several stages. The development cycle includes the following steps:
- In early autumn, fungal spores begin to germinate and form a mycelium.
- With the onset of autumn, the mycelium forms teliospores, which spread to the leaves of the tree.
- Spots appear on the surface of the sheet plates, which increase in the absence of a protective treatment.
The consequences of rust are: drying and shedding of foliage, a decrease in yield, a deterioration in the taste characteristics of fruits.
The effect of rust on the growth and development of an apple tree
In affected trees, photosynthesis and nutrient metabolism are impaired. As the spores absorb the moisture the plant needs, the water balance is thrown off. In case of rust disease, apple trees lack vitamin and mineral components, as a result of which development and fruiting slows down.
Tips: what to do, how to treat and how to protect the apple tree from rust fungus.
To eliminate dark spots on the leaves and ensure further protection of the apple tree from negative effects, a set of measures is required. To grow healthy trees and get a stable harvest, you should use fertilizers, do not neglect the rules of agricultural technology and create favorable conditions for growth.
Prevention of defeat
In order to prevent the disease, it is recommended to plant apple trees away from conifers. With the onset of spring, it is necessary to clean the affected areas until a layer of healthy wood appears. For preventive treatment, it is enough to spray the seedlings with a solution of copper sulfate.
Agrotechnical measures
The rules of agricultural technology involve planting and growing apple trees, taking into account a number of conditions. In particular:
- the distance between should be more than 3 m for free root formation;
- plantations require a draft-protected area, constantly illuminated by the sun;
- when planting, it is necessary to add top dressing to the seedling pit.
Treatment of plants with chemicals
Chemicals act more actively on fruit trees and destroy sources of infection. When using chemical preparations for processing apple trees, it is important to observe the dosage so as not to harm the leaves and shoots.
Protection of apple trees with biological products
Biologics are an alternative to chemicals, but they have a milder effect on plants. It is recommended to use products based on biological toxins for spraying young seedlings in order to increase immunity, protect against diseases and eliminate the effects of rust.
Preparation of solutions of biological products
You can prepare a bio-solution for processing apple trees yourself. To create a solution, no special training and knowledge is required, since it is enough to mix the components in the correct proportions.
"Trichodermin"
To prepare a solution of "Trichodermina", it is necessary to use the powder of the same name and, after separating 50 g, dissolve them in 1 liter of pure water. The resulting mixture is stirred, filtered and made up to 5 L with water.
"Planriz"
Planriz contains rhizosphere bacteria that actively suppress the development of rot and form a defense against harmful microflora. For watering plants, it is necessary to dissolve 100 ml of the drug in 10 liters of water. Also "Planriz" is suitable for pre-sowing seed treatment in the ratio of 10 ml of substance per 1 kg of seeds. The properties of "Planriz" are useful when applied to planting holes and used occasionally during the growing season.
"Fitodoctor"
To use the "Fitodoctor" preparation, it is necessary to dissolve the powder in water and process the area around the roots. "Fitodoctor" belongs to the category of biofungicides and stops the growth of the fungus. The tool is appreciated by gardeners due to the following benefits:
- Long-term protection throughout the growing season.
- Versatility of use (for disinfecting seeds, destroying infections, increasing plant immunity).
- The properties of "Fitodoctor" help to increase the yield.
"Fitosporin-M"
Means "Fitosporin-M" in the form of a powder dissolves in water and is used for treating rust on apple leaves, seed treatment and preventive purposes. Trees can be treated with the drug in any weather, but it should be borne in mind that rain can wash off some of the useful components from the vegetation.
Folk ways
In addition to chemicals and biologicals, it can be used for spraying apple trees folk methods of protection. Various infusions and decoctions are suitable for this. The most common is a decoction of horsetail, for the preparation of which it is necessary to pour half a bucket of vegetable raw materials with water, boil the mixture and hold for a day. The green part of the apple trees is sprayed with a filtered solution.
Also from folk remedies, iodine solution has a beneficial effect. For 10 liters of water, you must use 10 ml of alcoholic tincture of iodine and spray the leaves with an interval of 3 days.
In general, so that there are no diseases and the plant grows and fructifies well, I recommend trying the remedy BioGrow, this is a wonderful plant growth bioactivator, you will not regret it.