How to act correctly in the event of a fungal attack

What you can do against fungal diseases on the fruit tree

There are no effective fungicides approved for the hobby garden against many fungal diseases. Therefore, the pathogen must through a targeted prevention and careful care to be kept in check. These include, for example, these measures:

• early removal of infected parts of the plant
• generous pruning into healthy wood
• Disposal of cut plant parts, for example with household waste or by burning
• Disinfect cutting tools and garden tools

Adhering to the correct one is especially important in preventing such a disease Planting distance. Fruit trees in partially shaded or shady locations are more sensitive to the pathogens, which is one of the reasons why the trees should be in an airy, sunny location.

The most common mushrooms on fruit trees

Harmful fungi on fruit often only attack related species or, for example, only pome or berry fruit. There are few generalists such as Monilia fruit rot.

Powdery mildew

Every gardener knows the white, wipeable ones Leaf coverings powdery mildew, which occurs on fruit and ornamental trees as well as on vegetables, flowers and perennials. However, they are different types of harmful fungi that cause a very similar pattern of damage. The powdery mildew fungi differ in one essential point from other harmful fungi: They do not need moist leaves for their spores to germinate, but appear mainly in warm, sunny areas Summers.

Sooty mildew

These mushrooms feed on the sugary honeydew that plant-sucking insects like Aphids and excrete whiteflies. They settle on the glued parts of the plant and form the typical black coverings. Sooty mildew does not damage the plant directly, but its dark coating can severely impair the photosynthesis of the leaves.

Verticillium wilt

Verticillium fungi penetrate the plants from the ground through injuries to the roots or the root neck and clog the ducts. Sudden wilting phenomena on individual shoots or branches are typical, with the leaves hanging pale green and limp. In the further course the whole plant can die off.

Red pustular disease

The pathogen can attack a number of deciduous trees, but above all plums, cherries, apricots and all types of pome and nut fruits. Red pustular disease mainly affects dead parts of living fruit trees, for example branches frozen back by frost. From here he attacks healthy areas if he finds wounds and stumps to penetrate.

Monilia fruit rot

The Monilia fruit rot is mainly caused by the fungus Monilia fructigena and affects almost all tree fruits. The pathogen overwinters on dried fruit mummies on the tree, diseased windfalls and infected branches. This is why it is so important to remove these parts regularly.