Kokkomikoz on cherries: causes and control measures

Cherry berries are tasty and good. But to get a decent harvest, it is necessary to fight diseases. And perhaps the most serious challenge among them is cherry coccomycosis.

The main cause of the disease is a fungal infection, which provokes premature leaf fall and lowers the protective properties of plants. It should be borne in mind that even a number of deep biological studies have not yet helped to determine which specific type of pathogen is the main aggressor. But whatever the origin of the infection, it can quickly and massively cover significant areas of cherry. This is especially evident against the background of wet and warm summer months, then you can find a lot of affected cherries. But this is not too easy to do, because in the first years of the disease a significant difference is manifested only in increased leaf fall.

It is sometimes necessary to draw a clear line, where manifestations of natural adverse factors and poor care, and where there is a clear blow to coccomicosis, are difficult even for skilled agronomists and microbiologists. Severe disease can lead to the fact that until the end of summer, individual trees will completely lose their foliage. Mostly such a development is typical for the central part of Russia, although in other localities it is possible. Worst of all, coccomycosis severely undermines the natural biochemical processes inside the cherry, preventing it from preparing for winter. As a result, often occurs:

• total loss of landings;
• their freezing;
• cracking bark.

The lack of special actions against coccomycosis, even proceeding "favorably", causes:

• yield loss;
• damage to fruits;
• their slow formation;
• lowering the quality of the crop, which is still able to remove.

The only 100% guarantee that there will be no infection is the choice of felt cherries. But older varieties are more susceptible to infection than recently bred. But even among the latest breeding achievements, immunity is not always the same. For example, Nord Star, Shokoladnitsa, Rovesnitsa, Kharitonovskaya cherries are distinguished by increased security. However, it should not be interpreted as absolute impermeability to the fungal "agent".

Kokkomikoz most intensely collapses on landing at air temperatures from 19 to 23 degrees. Lower and higher temperatures, especially at low humidity, somewhat reduce its danger. But the wet windy weather only forces the spread of fungus spores both within one site and between neighboring territories. If we talk about large regions, the key risk of coccomycosis manifests itself:

• in the north-west of the Russian Federation;
• in the northern parts of the Black Soil Region;
• in all the Black Earth.

The hot dry summer of the Krasnodar and Stavropol Territories at the same time helps fungi much less. Therefore, there treatment with the use of synthetic drugs is practiced less frequently. It should be remembered that coccomycosis can spread from cherry to cherry plum, sweet cherry and other stone fruit plants (as well as in the opposite direction). Frosts almost do not destroy the pathogen, even if we talk about polar regions. Spores easily spend the winter on deciduous material inside the fruit. Asylum for them can be the slightest crack of the bark or even the soil of the trunk circle.

The first spring rains and winds spread the fungus even to those plants that had not previously been affected by it. The earliest manifestation of coccomycosis is yellowing of foliage. Sometimes the leaves at the same time acquire and reddish ebb. Over time, dots of brown color are found, the plates dry out. Turning the sheet, you can see the bulging white or pink tubercles - this is the accumulation of spores.

The fungus is able to multiply rapidly, even a short Russian summer is enough to form eight full-fledged generations. That is why control measures should be applied as soon as possible and more intensively in the detection of infections. Otherwise, the garden can be destroyed almost completely.It is recommended to always grow only that cherry, which is zoned for a specific area. Help plants need to be provided in several moves:

• before the snow leaves and the kidneys swell;
• before flowering;
• as soon as the harvest is complete;
• in the autumn period, but before the leaf fall begins.

Experienced gardeners use vitriol from iron and copper, Bordeaux liquid. Additional assistance cherry has whitewashing. Copper drugs, judging by the reviews, are more effective than iron-containing products. As for folk methods, one can firmly say: let them be unable to crush the infection, but strengthen the immunity of trees.

For processing use a solution of 2 kg of wood ash and 40-60 g of soap, diluted in 10 liters of water. Apply such mixtures should be in the last days of May, and then repeat every 7-10 days. Synthetic fungicides are recommended to be used two days before the beginning of flowering or some time after the harvest. Of the drugs, except Bordeaux liquid, suitable "Abiga-Peak", "Scor" and "Horus". Which one to use is a matter of personal gardener's preferences.

To increase the efficiency of treatment and reduce the need for it, you need to be more active in prevention. When whitewashing, vitriol is added to the coloring composition. It is necessary to cover cherry whitewashing strictly from the place where it enters the ground. In general, it is worth trying to close the maximum surface to block the path of the fungus. A mixture of whitewash with vitriol will penetrate into any hole on the bark and, besides the elimination of the causative agent of coccomycosis, will prevent many harmful insects.

Cutting cherries and cleaning the territory of the site, burning leaves and weakened branches, is very important at least once a year. By spending a few hours on it in the fall, you can significantly reduce the risk of an uninvited fungus in the spring months. If you do not comply with this recommendation, apply the latest synthetic tools will have almost guaranteed. The fact is that fungi are also evolving, adapting to adverse environmental conditions. Because the traditional Bordeaux liquid and vitriol, and even whitewash can be almost useless.

Many gardeners are increasingly faced with a situation where the usual protective drugs can only be used during flowering and folding of ovaries. In any other period, unfortunately, the synthetics are definitely more effective. Increased prevention should be carried out with the mechanical destruction of the protective cover, due to:

• severe frosts;
• sheet damage;
• breaking branches;
• cuts and scratches on the bark;
• rodent damage to the trunk.

It is very important to take care of the immunity of the tree itself in front of fungal aggression. It is provided by the use of autumn dressings. On 1 square meter of a wheel circle are entered:

• 5 kg of manure;
• or 1.5% potassium chloride solution;
• or 3% superphosphate solution.

If the dry time is coming, water recharge irrigation of 180 liters of water under the tree is practiced. It is recommended to remove stratified bark, moss and lichen from the trunk. Too dense crown specially thinned out. It is very important to find good "neighbors" and not to bring the cherries too close together. The plot is regularly dug up and cleaned of weeds, strictly adhere to the principles of crop rotation. It is necessary to be engaged in prevention on all site, even where the cherry does not grow - the fung easily overcomes even rather long distance.

It is worth taking care of the relentless fight against harmful insects.They not only inhibit the landing, but also open the "entrance gate" of infection.

The most verified strategy involves:

• the spraying of wood and tree trunks with copper-containing preparations against the background of bud swelling;
• the impact of "Horus" in the development of buds;
• re-treatment by him or "Topsin-M" in a concentration of 0.1% (carried out only with cold and wet early June);
• with the continuation of the disease at 14-21 days after the end of flowering - cutting off damaged and dried branches and processing "early";
• spraying trees Bordeaux after removing the fruit;
• whitewash recent and underdeveloped shoots after the completion of leaf fall.

In this video, talk about how to deal with cherry coccomycosis.