Hi! I am hoping that someone can help with identifying the problem with the plum tree in my back garden. I believe that the plum variety is Santa Rose but this is unconfirmed. However, the leaves seem to have been attacked by either a fungus or fly and now gives the plant an overall shabby appearance. I have attached a photo of one of the fruit and close up of the leaf problem. I also assess the tree to be weakened by the blight as the fruit drop more readily than I would expect. I moved into the house July 08 and immediately wanted to get rid of the tree as it appeared to be producing nothing. However, my wife spotted a lone plum and subsequent investigation determined that Richmond's bye-laws made getting rid of a tree a difficult proposition. In late Winter, therefore, I pruned the tree, largely to give it better shape and because I felt it had lacked TLC over the years. To my delight this year we have had a large quantity of edible fruit, though not what I would call an abundance. The damaged leaves remain and clearly the plant is not in the rudest of health. Any help or advice would be warmly appreciated.
The leaves with shot holes lead me to suspect Coryneum Blight. I have a plum tree with 4 varieties grafted onto it, but only the Santa Rosa seems to be badly affected by Coryneum Blight, which it probably picked up from an adjacent peach tree which is also badly affected. Various sprays, especially fixed copper, are supposed to be effective against Coryneum Blight, but I haven't been able to eliminate it after many years of trying. However, I haven't been very diligent in my spraying program; so there is still hope. I have many different fruit trees in a small area, which makes disease control difficult. If your tree stands alone, it should be much easier. Note that I haven't been able to find anything in books or the Web about controlling Coryneum Blight in plum trees, but there is much written about controlling it in peach and cherry trees, which are closely related.
Vitog, Thank you. Having scoured the web and its paucity of accurate info with respect to diseased plum trees and I concur with your assessment. Looks like I shall have to establish a strict spraying regimen come the Fall. Fortunately the tree stands alone so there is hope for it yet. Best regards WAFU
Help with eradicating ungus on plum tree I also have a definite fungus on y Victoria plum tree but not with fly fungus symptoms. The trunk and several larger branches have the fruiting bodies of a fungus similar to "Beefsteak fungus" coming out of them. I cannot identify this fungus, can anyone help? I am about to cut the tree down and burn it but wonder if this fungus could be in te soil waiting to attack any replacement tree?
