How to treat moniliosis cherries?

Cherry is a rather delicate culture. There are many diseases that can harm a tree or even destroy it.Moniliosis is a fungal disease that is widespread in our country. Experts say that every cherry bush carries it at least once in a lifetime. Visually, it looks as if the tree has been burned, flowers and green leaves wither and dry. Therefore, every gardener needs to know what kind of infection it is and how to deal with it, which we will discuss in this article.

Most often cherries affect such diseases as moniliosis and coccomycosis. As for moniliosis, the disease can be quickly diagnosed. Already on the first leaflets appear specks of brown, and shoots begin to dry out. This is a monilial burn.

Another name for this disease is fruit or gray rot. It appears because the fungus attacks a healthy cherry. Most often this attack attacks stone and pome crops. If the disease is started and the treatment is not started on time, it can lead to complete drying of the tree. One of the consequences becomes late flowering and, accordingly, pollination.

Currently, monilioz is increasingly common in garden areas and is becoming more and more developed. Several years ago, the disease affected trees only partially, but now it can lead to their complete destruction.

To find out that it was moniliosis that hit the cherry, it is necessary to understand exactly how it appears on the tree. Among the first symptoms it can be noted that the berries, not having time to ripen, mummify quickly enough, the leaves on the branches begin to dry, the branches darken, become fragile and break easily. In addition, on those shoots where the fungus spores spent the winter, you can see soft areas. It is easier to determine the disease on large trees - by a clear line that lies between the healthy and infected parts, because where the fungus develops, the branches quickly dry and turn black.

The fungus that causes this disease can enter the cherry through the pistils of flowers. In order for the disputes to survive the winter, they need to be accommodated on the affected branches of the tree, in its fruits, which were mummified and were not harvested in the autumn. In lush flowering, spores are actively developing, which can spread to the ovary and the stem. Infection can also occur with the help of the kidneys.

For the spread of moniliosis, low temperature conditions are favorable, it affects flowers at -2 degrees, and the ovary is at zero temperature. Also, the fungus loves moisture, so fogs and morning dew help it to spread. If the winter was wet and there was no severe frost throughout, it could also lead to the occurrence of the disease.

Monilioz has 2 forms. The first one is fruit rot. It is formed on the affected fruits, after which, when they fall, it is fixed there for the whole winter. The second is a monilial burn. It occurs due to the fact that the spores of the fungus get into cracks and damage to the plant, the cause of which can be, for example, the attack of pests.

If fruits appear on the infected cherry, it is too early to rejoice. After a certain period of time, the berries dry out, as well as the shoots and leaves, and then they will fall off.

When the development of moniliosis stops, it can be concluded that the disease has passed, but this is not the case. Her external manifestations weaken, but under suitable conditions she will remind herself in full force. In addition to favorable weather conditions, insect pests that live on cherries can become carriers of infection.

It should be noted that insects not only harm the plant, worsening its general condition, but also are able to carry the fungus from the damaged to healthy parts of the tree.In the fight against moniliosis, folk methods rarely help, the main focus should be on potent fungicides, otherwise there is a risk of losing all the cherry trees in the area. At the same time, at the first stage of the disease, the yield drops sharply. The only way to save the plants is their timely treatment and protection.

If the gardener does not have the experience of meeting with monilioz, he can misjudge the dried flowers and leaves and think that this is only the influence of weather conditions. Accordingly, measures to combat the real disease will be taken too late, which can lead to the death of the mass of trees and the entire crop. If the opal most of the flowers and the disease struck the first ovary, which also began to dry, it is quite possible that the treatment started will not lead to a positive result, since the fungus has captured the whole plant. Therefore, it is necessary to begin the fight against moniliasis, when the flowers have just blossomed, then there is a chance to save the cherry.

As soon as the buds and leaves start to dry, it's time to start treating the tree. This is the beginning of the development of the disease, and most of the fruit is still possible to save. It should be borne in mind that the more suitable the weather to choose for processing, the greater the chance of a successful outcome of the situation.

Fruits affected by the fungus can be used, but this should be done immediately after collection, as they will not be stored for a long time. The best option - the preparation of jam or compote.

With regard to the processing of chemicals, it should be carried out under the condition that the kidneys are not yet swollen, and also when they begin to bloom. A 3% solution of Bordeaux mixture is sprayed on the crowns of plants, but the trunks are whitened with the addition of copper sulfate and some means that destroys the fungus. Just before flowering, you need to spray the crowns with the composition of "Cineba." If this treatment was not carried out, it must be done in the process of how the flowers begin to bloom.

"Topsin-M" can be used in the future. Spraying should be done every 2 weeks during the month. After that you should use an iron vitriol, "Kuprozan", which will fit at the peak of flowering and after it ends. After another 2 weeks, you can apply "Chorus" and "Cupid." Each preparation is supplied with the detailed instruction where all specifications and ways of preparation of solutions are painted. For moniliosis-resistant varieties, the treatment should not be repeated after the tree has faded.

Biological products are valued for being able to use them at a time when berries are already forming and ripening. Chemicals at this time can not be used, since after treatment they have to pass a month before the crop is harvested. Among biological formulations, gardeners are advised to use Fitosporin-M. They need to process the tree when it has faded, after that - at the peak of the formation of the ovaries. Dilute the drug should be in the proportion of 40 milliliters per bucket of water. As a prophylactic agent, you can use Fitolavin in the same dosage.

The main preventive measure is the purchase of varieties of cherry susceptible to moniliosis. However, it is important and proper care, which will not allow this fungal disease to develop.

The first thing to consider is that the distance between the trees should be sufficient so that they do not have contact. Well-suited elevated parts of the terrain, in this case there is a chance that the groundwater will be lower than 1.5 meters from the surface. Cherries love light, in addition, the sun's rays help moisture evaporate faster.

As for pruning and thinning of the crown of trees, the procedures should be carried out in a timely manner and in no case should they not be abandoned. Mechanical damage also will not benefit the cherry, it is through them that infection can get. It is important to remove weeds and grass in time. Also for the tree is very useful fertilizing complex fertilizers and proper watering, which increases the immunity of trees and helps them grow well.

When spring comes, remove all dry and damaged branches from the tree. If it is clear that the bark has died, this part must also be cleaned, otherwise a fungus may also develop in this place.

Kokkomikoz and moniliosis are the most unpleasant diseases for cherries, therefore, when buying seedlings, it is necessary to choose varieties resistant to fungus, viruses and bacteria. The most popular of them are “Shokoladnitsa”, “Turgenevka”, “Shalushya”, “Novella”, “Toy” and others. Consider the main characteristics of some of them.

Cherry "Chocolate" differs in resistance to frosts, coccomycosis and moniliosis, as well as high yield. The tree can have a height of up to 2.5 meters, its crown does not have the thickness inherent in other species. The plant begins to bear fruit at the age of 4 years, the berry tastes like a sweet cherry. Harvest wood really gives enough, you can collect up to 11.5 kilograms of berries from it.

Cherry "Turgenevka" is very valuable throughout Russia, its fruits are rich in organic matter and other useful elements. The berries are quite large, each weighs about 5 grams, it tastes sour-sweet. Starts to bear fruit at the age of 5 years, has a good yield. It is resistant to frost and fungal diseases.

Cherry "Minx", besides the fact that looks great, also has medicinal properties. It also shows resistance to fungal infections. It grows pretty fast. Gardeners appreciate this variety for the size of the fruit (about 6 grams), their excellent taste and small bone inside. Fruiting begins at 3 years of age.

Cherry "Novella" is considered one of the most unpretentious varieties. The height of the tree can reach 3 meters, the diameter of the berries - 2 centimeters with a weight of 5 grams. The fruits have a dark maroon dark color, a small bone and a sweet and sour taste. It tolerates winter and the effects of fungal infections. Fruiting begins in mid-July, yield - 15 pounds per plant. In addition, the tree is recognized as a long-lived, but it has one main disadvantage - its buds do not tolerate severe frosts, the presence of which can lead to loss of the crop as a whole.

Cherry "Toy" is a hybrid. Its main feature, for which this variety is so much appreciated, is immunity to fungal infection, in particular, coccomycosis and moniliosis. Among the distinctive features of the cherry can be noted its size, which can reach 7 meters, an oval crown, brown shoots, bright foliage, very sweet fruits, having a weight of 9 grams.

The tree begins to bear fruit at the age of 3 years, the fruits ripen by the last days of August, but the crop is rich and its volume increases every year - when the cherry reaches 10 years old, you can collect about 50 kilograms of tasty, large and beautiful berries. The tree is able to resist fungal and bacterial infections, scientists continue to study it in their breeding work.

It should be noted that in various regions of our country there are favorite types of cherries, the most adapted to the climate and weather conditions. For example, felt varieties are relevant for the Moscow region, which make it possible to get the maximum amount of the crop on a small plot.These varieties are also resistant to fungal and bacterial infections, have excellent taste and good frost tolerance. Among them are the “Altan” and “Beauty”.

"Felt" cherry got its name due to its peel, to the touch resembling this material. It is considered an unpretentious plant, differs in late maturing of fruits and small height.

For what monilioz is and how to treat it, see the next video.