Budding time will depend on where you live and the type of budding technique you use. Traditional timing in the northern hemisphere above 36 degrees latitude, roughly the Virginia-North Carolina border, would be to bud trees in late August to early September, when the bark readily “slips.” Slipping refers to the ability of the bark to be easily and smoothly pulled away from the heartwood of the tree. When this occurs, “T-budding” or “chip budding” can be performed. If you …
How do I identify and manage Armillaria root rot, or shoestring rot, in apple?
Armillaria root rot, also known as shoestring root rot, is a soilborne disease that can affect several fruit crops, but it is most common in the eastern United States on peach and apple trees. Its host range also includes numerous species of deciduous and evergreen trees, shrubs, and woody vines. The greatest prevalence of the disease is in orchards planted on newly cleared land in which the soils are sandy and well drained. In these locations, pieces of wood invaded …
What is black pox, and how do I identify and manage the disease?
Black pox is a fungus disease caused by Helminthosporium papulosum. It is considered to be of minor economic importance. When it occurs, the disease can affect apple bark, fruit, and foliage. It is more common from southern Virginia southward than in the northern mid-Atlantic region. The same fungus causes blister canker on pear. For more information, read this article on Black Pox of Apple.
Answer provided by Alan R. Biggs, West Virginia University.…
What is black root rot (dead man’s fingers), and how do I identify and manage the disease?
Black root rot, also called dead man’s fingers or Xylaria root rot, is occasionally observed on mature apple and cherry trees. Although trees of all ages can be infected, most trees that die from black root rot are at least 10 years old. Black root rot is caused by two species of the fungus Xylaria, X. mail and X. polymorpha, with the former being more common in the southern Appalachian states, and the latter more common in the eastern …
What is Nectria canker, and how do I identify and manage the disease on apple trees?
Nectria canker is a fungus disease caused by Nectria galligena. It is occasionally found on apple nursery stock shipped into the eastern United States. The economic effects of the disease in the eastern United States are minor. The fungus grows deep into the wood and kills new wound callus as it develops. This annual killing of successive layers of callus results in perennial, target-like, zonate cankers. Eventually the cankers girdle the tree, resulting in a dieback of infected limbs …
What is apple union necrosis and decline, and how do I identify and manage the disease?
Apple union necrosis and decline is caused by tomato ringspot virus, which also causes disease in other fruit trees, small fruits, and many herbaceous plants. Symptoms appear as infected trees reach bearing age. Bud break is often delayed in the spring, and leaves are small and sparse with a dull, pale green color. Terminal shoot growth is reduced, with shortened internodes. Infected trees flower heavily and set large numbers of small, highly colored fruit. Leaf discoloration and leaf drop occur …
What is X-spot, and how do I identify and manage the disease on apple trees?
The names X-spot, X-rot, and Nigrospora spot have been applied to a small, circular, depressed, necrotic spot typically on the calyx end of apple fruit in the mid-Atlantic region. Although uncommon, incidence of X-spot as high as 86% was reported on unprotected ‘Golden Delicious’ and ‘Rome Beauty’ fruit in 1950. Other susceptible cultivars include ‘Jonathan’, ‘Stayman Winesap’, and ‘York Imperial’. A fungus has been associated with X-spot lesions, but the typical lesion symptom has not been duplicated by controlled inoculation, …
Black Root Rot of Apple
Black root rot, also called dead man’s fingers or Xylaria root rot, is occasionally observed on mature apple and cherry trees. Although trees of all ages can be infected, most trees that die from black root rot are at least 10 years old. Black root rot is caused by two species of the fungus Xylaria: X. mail and X. polymorpha, with the former more common in southern Appalachian states and the latter more common in eastern states. The disease …
What are burr knots?
Burr knots are root initials that develop above ground. Rootstocks are selected for their ability to produce roots, but some rootstocks try to produce roots above the ground. The severity of burr knot development differs depending on the variety and region. In several rootstock trials, trees in Virginia tended to produce more burr knots than trees in most other locations. Sometimes several burr knots will coalesce and partially girdle the tree. Burr knots are considered undesirable because they can be …
Armillaria Root Rot of Apple
Armillaria root rot, also known as shoestring root rot, is a soilborne disease that can affect several fruit crops. However, it is most common in the eastern United States on peach and apple trees. Its host range also includes numerous species of deciduous and evergreen trees, shrubs, and woody vines. The greatest prevalence of the disease is in orchards planted on newly cleared land in which the soils are sandy and well-drained. In these locations, pieces of wood invaded by …