Fruit Tree Diseases of Apple,
Pear and Peach Trees

Custom Search

Apples

Apple Scab

Apple Scab is the #1 disease of apples just about everywhere.

Symptoms include:

• rough skin on the fruit
• uncommon fruit drop and leaf infection
• early defoliation
• the following year, decreased fruit bud production and general reduction of the strength of the tree

The fungus that brings on Apple Scab overwinters in leaf droppings. Early spring winds bring spores into the tree canopy, which results in lesions on leaves. A warm rainy climate (spring weather!) leads to scab growth. Brand new infections occur throughout the summer as rains wash the fungus onto other leaves and fruit.

Suggestions:

• plant varieties resistant to apple scab
• gather and remove fallen leaves (if you compost them, make sure the compost is a hot one, to kills the fungus and its spores)

Fire Blight

Fire Blight induces grave harm to apple and pear trees.

Symptoms of Fire Blight:

• blossom infections, but infection and death of new shoots are usual.
• the downward looped twig tip is a feature of fire blight.

Suggestions:

• chop off infected twigs and branches 12 inches below the dead area.
• clean the pruning tool between cuts by dunking in 10% solution of liquid bleach to stave off dispersing the disease.

Sooty Blotch and Fly Speck

Sooty Blotch and Fly Speck are usually on the plant at the same time.

This disease most commonly grows when temperatures are 65-80 degrees F (18-27 degrees C) and humidity is elevated. This combination occurs most often when night temperatures stay over 65-70 degrees F (18-21 degrees C) during summer, or during an extended warm, rainy period. The infections are not visible at harvest, so they can start in storage.

Suggestion:

• plant only disease-resistant varieties

Cedar-Apple Rust

Symptoms of Cedar-Apple Rust:

• bright orange blemishes on leaves and fruit.
• loss of strength in the tree

The fungus that causes cedar-apple rust finishes part of its life cycle on red cedar trees. In spring, they produce large, bright orange, gummy lesions at the ends of branches.

Suggestion:

• get rid of nearby Eastern red cedars

Pears

Pear Scab

Pear Scab happens in any place pears are grown. It's also known as Black Spot because of the dark spots it makes on leaves and fruits. Most tainted pears can still be consumed if the scabby area is removed.

Symptoms of Pear Scab:

• it first shows up on the bottom and then on the side of the fruit
• infected fruit frequently become distorted
• scab spores overwinter on infected leaves lyng on the ground.
• invasion of the fruit starts at the green-tip phase of flower bud development
• the infection rate is greater when blossoms are present, but continues for about 6 to 9 weeks

Suggestion:

• get rid of leaf debris and infected fruit in the autumn to avoid Pear Scab and many other fruit tree diseases

Peaches

Bacterial Spot

Bacterial Spot is one of the most damaging of peach fruit tree diseases in all regions east of the Rockies.

It is first sighted about 3 to 5 weeks after petals fall, as small, water-drenched, brown lesions. First evidence on fruit can be misidentified as insect damage. During times of high humidity, gum may ooze out from these wounds.

Peach Leaf Curl