Each gardener invests a lot of time and effort into his plot, and in return wants to get a good harvest. To do this, it is not enough to feed, water and trim plants. It is also very important to protect the garden from pests, as well as from various diseases, which are becoming more and more. Viral and fungal, they spread at the speed of light and lead to the complete death of the crop, and sometimes the trees themselves.
Today, more and more often summer residents are faced with the fact that spring greens on stone fruit trees are covered with brown spots. Many mistakenly believe that there was a night frost, or blame themselves for improper insecticide treatment. In fact, this is the activity of a harmful fungus. This disease is called monilial burn. Its prevalence in Russia today has reached incredible proportions, so every summer resident should foresee such a problem.
How to recognize the enemy in the face
This disease did not appear yesterday. If you have been dacha for a long time, then most likely you know what a monilial burn is. Just inin everyday life it is called differently. This is the usual gray rot. Various subspecies settle on all fruit trees. At the same time, stone fruits are a favorite of this fungus and suffer much more.
Territorial distribution
Monilial burn is very common in temperate regions. In Russia, this is the European part and the northwest, the Far East, the Caucasus and the Urals, Siberia. That is, it turns out that most of the country suffers. Cherry orchards of Ukraine and Belarus are infected. The problem is becoming almost universal, and regular processing does not save either. Relatively cool weather and rains are excellent conditions for the development of gray mold. With high humidity, the optimum temperature is 15-20 degrees. Today, the climate is changing everywhere, and a long spring with precipitation leads to the fact that monilial burn appears even in regions where it has not been seen before.
How infection occurs
Processing should be carried out before flowering plants. It is from the moment the buds open that the conidia of the fungus penetrate through the pistil into the flower. Here he receives all the conditions necessary for life and development. The mushroom picker is able to infect the wood of the shoots. As a result, the gardener observes a rapidly growing monilial burn (cherries, for example). Instead of pouring berries, you get drying young twigs. The spores of the fungus are carried by the wind over a considerable distance, so if there are no diseased trees in neighboring areas, this does not mean thatthat there is nothing to worry about. Insects can also bring them.
First signs
As we have already said, the leaves and shoots become brown in color. Following them, the same fate awaits the formed ovaries. If the affected parts of the plants are not removed in time, they themselves will become a source of spores. Monilial stone burn is a disease that should be de alt with with all seriousness. Even adverse conditions cannot stop the life process of the fungus. In hot weather, his activity slows down, but at the first opportunity he will again manifest himself in all his "glory". The spores of the fungus are extremely tenacious.
Over the summer period, it can give several generations of spores and capture entire gardens. Cold spores survive on branches, dried leaves and unripe berries, which mummified and remained hanging on a tree. And with the advent of the warm season, the cycle of development is repeated at an even greater speed.
At risk
A novice gardener is sometimes surprised that only adult, fruit-bearing plantings are affected. At the same time, young trees calmly endure the neighborhood with them, without showing any signs of disease. There is no miracle here. It's just that the only place through which the fungus invades the bast tissues of the plant is an open flower. Therefore, seedlings are 100% protected.
At the same time, precipitation that falls during the flowering period is vital for spores. The tree itself needs them, since moderate heat and a sufficient amount of moisture contribute to the appearance and maturationfruits. But the same rains create conditions for the development of the fungus and reduce the resistance of the plant. Therefore, a warm and rainy spring is a reason to beware and regularly check your garden. Even if you're not sure if the fungus is causing the branch to dry out, it's always best to cut it off and burn it.
Stop the spread
Insects that parasitize flowers and ovaries also contribute to the spread. By the way, beneficial bees can also be indirectly to blame, since along with pollen they also capture harmful spores. Therefore, timely treatment with insecticides is also a very important event. Monilial burn of fruit trees is considered one of the most destructive diseases. At the same time, you need to remember that treatment with folk methods is useless, so you do not need to spend time and effort on it. Modern agricultural technologies have stepped far forward, and summer residents will surely find the necessary preparations in modern stores.
Choose a variety
Even at the time of buying a seedling, you should think about which one will feel best in your area. The stronger the tree, the easier it will survive the attack of the fungus and therapeutic pruning, and also start to grow and restore its previous yield. Of course, it is very convenient to plant plants that are completely resistant to such formidable diseases as monilial cherry scorch. Treatment involves the use of special drugs, which can then accumulate in the fetus. I would very much like to avoid this.
Breeders have not been able to breed varieties that would be completely immune to a dangerous disease. It's a pity, of course, but you should not lose heart. There are varieties that are better than others to cope with this scourge. As an example, we can cite Anadolskaya and Tamaris cherries, Belarusian varieties Zhivitsa and Rossoshanskaya black, as well as a number of unpretentious varieties for the Moscow region. These are Turgenevka and Molodezhnaya, Radonezh and Bystrinka.
With the right approach, these trees can safely grow and bear fruit even in an area where there is a massive infection with monilial burn. At the same time, the amount of harvest will please from year to year.
Prevention measures
Much easier to stop a monilial burn. Treatment can be lengthy and quite difficult, so pay special attention to this point. A good preventive measure is the regular formation of the crown of fruit trees. Removing excess branches, the growth of which leads to excessive crown density, as well as cutting weak shoots, reduces the risk of crown colonization by pests and fungi. Such pruning is especially important for old, weakening trees. Be sure to cut off all plant debris from diseased cherries.
Mechanical destruction of affected plants
The fight against monilial burn is a whole range of measures that is aimed at completely ridding the garden of the fungus and preventing its occurrence in the future. If you do not want the garden to be completely destroyed, you must cut out all the affected and dead parts.plants.
Usually, the time for a full inspection comes immediately after the leaf fall. Sick and dry branches are cut out, and the wounds are covered with putty or paint. Cut branches and dry debris must be burned. After that, experts recommend spraying the trees with a 6% solution of iron sulfate. Do not be too lazy to whiten tree trunks and branches with lime milk.
If you could not complete these activities in the fall, then they are smoothly transferred to the spring. Do not forget that the work must be completed before the kidneys swell. Cut branches should also be burned. Now let's take care of the garden. After the buds swell, you need to spray the trees with 1% Bordeaux mixture. After flowering, check the fruit trees again. If old dried branches remain or new ones have been added to them, then it is necessary to repeat the pruning and carry out a second spraying with Bordeaux liquid.
Using fungicides
Today, there are many modern formulations that are designed to treat fungal diseases. But it is very important to take into account the fact that parasites adapt quickly. Therefore, it is necessary to change fungicides from year to year, as well as regularly repeat the treatment. Along with this, it is necessary to carry out the prevention of the spread of pests. Most often it is recommended to use Fundazol, Topaz, Acrobat, Chorus, Strobe, Falcon.
Complete felling of the garden
This radical decision sometimes comes to mindgardener who is tired of fighting the disease. In fact, this is the worst option. Of course, with the destruction of trees, the monilial burn will also disappear. The photos presented in the article will help you understand what this disease is. However, by planting new trees, you will again be at risk. Cherries and plums, apricots and peaches should not be cut, but rejuvenated by pruning skeletal branches. In parallel, a number of preventive and therapeutic sprays are carried out and a crown is formed that is completely free from the fungus. In this case, you will not lose as much time as it takes to grow a new orchard.
Instead of a conclusion
Monilial scorch is a formidable disease that can leave you cropless pretty quickly. The fungus spreads at lightning speed and is dangerous for most horticultural crops. But among fruit trees, stone fruit crops suffer the most. On the territory of Russia it is cherry and plum. However, the gardener is quite able to protect his plantings. To do this, you need to form the crown of trees, regularly inspect them and carry out timely treatment with iron sulphate or fungicides.
