Fruit Trees Dying (forum)

Alison starts with ...
We have an orchard of about 40 fruit trees in an area about 1800 sq m, most 2-3 years old. Previous years very dry, watered by drip irrigation. This year lots of rain and we have some problems: 2 apples and a European plum came into blossom and early leaf but flowers and leaves went brown starting at the tip and died. Now plants have no leaves but branches have not gone brittle. Plum tree sprouted from root stock and now its leaves are browning on the tips. Cherry tree has gummosis near graft, one patch is like jelly. Nearby potato leaves are curled and not formed properly. Soil is decomposed granite, drains well. Soil is acidic (5.5 to 6 if I remember rightly) Is this likely to be a fungus? Any remedies, preferably organic?

Time: 2nd December 2010 12:49pm

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About the Author Alison8
SE NSW
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Jimmy says...
Sounds very much like a fungal disease.

Cut back til you find a healthy bit of trunk. if that goes to the ground then your a bit stuffed cos thats the rootstock.

Time: 2nd December 2010 12:50pm

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About the Author Jimmy
Perth
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Wayne says...
I would suggest lots of dolomite to raise the PH, lots of sulphate of Potash to help get rid of those burnt leaf tips and strenghten the trees and lots of compost and a good fertiliser such as Terrafozka TE

Time: 2nd December 2010 2:41pm

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About the Author Wayne
Mackay QLD
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kert says...
Ah , Wayne, you've done it again!
The likeliest causes are some fungi acting at root level ;two that I can think of are Armillaria and Phytophthora . You can look up the symptoms and check some images . Another disease, suggested by the gummosis, is bacterial canker which again has a characteristic appearance.None of these putative diagnoses is helped by fertilising.


Time: 2nd December 2010 4:22pm

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John Mc says...
With all this rain lately I think I've been hit with something fungal as well. Luckily it's only contained to one "White" Cherimoya recently acqired from Daley's in one part of the property and a seed grown yellow Tamarillo, approx 2m high, in another location. Both took on the same symptoms, ie, wilted to a point of loosing all leaves. A scratch test tells me the trees are still alive.
Is there any remedy better than Phosphoric acid? since there is no leaves to utlilise the chemical? Will phosphoric acid in fact work at all now?
I know I should have got on to it sooner rather than later, the horse may have already bolted.
I feel really bad. Daley's have propagated and nurtured this beautiful little tree for probably up to three years and I go and kill it in a matter of months.


Time: 2nd December 2010 5:02pm

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Original Post was last edited: 2nd December 2010 5:07pm

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amanda says...
Hi John Mc - at the risk of damaging a few roots - it might be work using something like a pitchfork to get some air channels down to the roots?
I would give the Anti Rot a go - it's systemic - it would be worth contacting Yates to see if it's actively taken up by the roots?

(I am amazed at all the rain over there! We have just had our hottest and driest spring on record...I want some of the action!)

Also - if it's going to keep raining maybe it's worth trying to keep the rain away from the drip zone do u think? I am just thinking aloud here...I don't know what you would use - maybe some sheets of corri iron (on the ground - sloping away from the trunk) or such?

Time: 2nd December 2010 7:34pm

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About the Author amanda19
Geraldton Mid West WA
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John Mc says...
Yes, thanks Amanda. I've re-potted the Cherimoya up again into a very well draining potting mix. It's now sitting and looking very sad in my poly house. And, yes Yates Antirot is phosphoric acid.
We had a brief visitor here not long ago from a very famous lady in the plant kingdom, who also is Yates' spokesperson on all things plant related, in the name of Judy Horton. She would be one person who could tell me whether the antirot would benefit my Cherimoya. I'm going to spray it anyway, it's not going to do any harm whatsoever. Fingers crossed, I've been waiting a long time to get one of these cultivars and I'm not going to give up easily.

Time: 2nd December 2010 8:23pm

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amanda says...
Hi John Mc - is a polyhouse a good spot? I would have thought it be hot n humid (maybe not so good for a fungal infection?) Dunno - just thinking aloud again .. ;-)



Time: 3rd December 2010 1:37am

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About the Author amanda19
Geraldton Mid West WA
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John Mc says...
Yeah, you might be right Amanda. I'm more concerned about the loss of moisture in the trunk while (if) it recovers. I am watering the pot with a diluted mix of Antirot and Seasol every second/third day. Everything grows so well in the little polyhouse.
I'm about to start building a larger polytunnel, 6m by 12m by 3.5m high. It was suppose to be finished before last winter. I might post some pics of the construction in progress when I get the ball rolling.

Time: 4th December 2010 10:29pm

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amanda says...
Fingers crossed John Mc! :) I think I am about to lose some of my natives that I planted as tube stock 5yrs ago (due to lack of rain)
It's so sad to watch this happening - but what can u do - if I water them then I am just delaying the inevitable. My poor babies. :-(

Time: 6th December 2010 10:40am

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About the Author amanda19
Geraldton Mid West WA
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