Need confirmation of tree & disease...

Discussion in 'Fruit and Nut Trees' started by Thraxen, Jun 10, 2006.

  1. Thraxen

    Thraxen Member

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    Location:
    Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA
    I posted this info in the identification forum asking for someone to identify the tree and disease. I was told the trees in question were Pear trees and was linked to a page on apple/pear diseases. Looking at that page I thought the diease was fire blight while the person that gave me the link seemed to be leaning toward fabraea leaf spot. So he suggested that I post here for confirmation and further suggestions on control.

    Here are the pics:

    Some leaves with spots
    Many leaves have spots now :(

    Closer look at a leaf

    Dead limb
    There are quite a few of these small limbs that have died completely on each tree.

    Better look at the fruit

    Here is the link to the disease page:
    Fruit Tree Diseases

    I think that if you click on this link about Fire Blight and compare the dead limbs pictured to the picture of the dead limb on my tree I linked to above that they look nearly identical... which is why think this is Fire Blight.
     
  2. Ron B

    Ron B Paragon of Plants 10 Years

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    Location:
    WA USA (Z8)
    Definitely a pear tree. Sometimes it takes a lab test to identify a disease for sure, but if it seems to fit a locally prevalent condition it's probably safe to assume it is that condition. Try local Extension office, Master Gardener clinic or trusted independent nursery for other opinions.
     
  3. mr.shep

    mr.shep Well-Known Member 10 Years

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    Location:
    San Joaquin Valley, California
    Speckling of the leaves seen in the lower portion of the
    tree is usually an indication of a Bacterial Blast. A large
    blighted area that quickly turns black and has areas of
    amber gummosis is regarded as Fire Blight. It appears
    your tree is possibly showing signs of both diseases but
    I am not seeing the gummosis from these photos. Fire
    Blight does not necessarily cause the leaves from wood
    that was not hit hard to have speckles or deadened areas
    like as seen in some of your photos.

    Regardless of whether your tree has both diseases or one
    or the other you need to prune out all the deadened branches
    as soon as possible as the blasted areas will serve as infection
    points for the tree later in the year when Fire Blight really
    hits hard and for next year for the Bacterial Blast. You are
    going to want to use a fungicide spray on this tree after you
    prune this tree hard and again in August to serve a protectant
    for the main band of Fire Blight to hit. Many times early
    in the year we suspect Fire Blight has hit us and then later
    on in the Summer is when we see the more destructive
    form hit with a vengeance around here. Fruiting Cherries,
    Pears and Apples are hardest hit at this time for us here.

    Find a fruit tree specialist to come in and give you some
    pointers in how to clean up the tree, prune to shape it,
    give it an Agricultural strength systemic Copper based
    fungicide spray such as Ridomil and hope you can get
    some new growth to come back for you during this
    growing season.

    What happens with the Bacterial Blast if it is left
    untreated we will see it again late Spring next year and it
    gets worse every year as we left the infected areas on the
    tree to come back and bite us again. With Fire Blight the
    infected areas can spread, so any areas that have had limbs
    killed back to the base of the tree need to come off right
    now, don't even waste your time going to a nursery, you
    need to go to your nearest cooperative extension and
    arrange for a tree specialist to come in or have a certified
    arborist well trained in fruit trees have at your tree or you
    can do all the work yourself but keep in mind that every
    pruning cut you make must be disinfected as if your shears
    and pruners are not sanitized you can infect other areas
    of your tree with your non-sanitized pruning. Buy a gallon
    of Chlorox and go for it but don't delay as the worst form
    of Fire Blight is on its way later in the year. Your tree has
    already been weakened albeit not that bad yet but you are
    looking at it being much worse later if not killed outright
    at some point in time if you do nothing. I've seen Fire
    Blight hit here in 100 degree plus weather in August and
    kill a 15' fruiting Pear tree before. The person did not
    listen to me after a serous bout with Bacterial Blast and
    saw first hand the result of what I warned might happen
    when the real Fire Blight hits.

    Good luck,

    Jim
     

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