SCAB
 |
The symptoms of Scab are olive-green or brown blotches on the leaves.
The blotches turn browner as time progresses. Then brown scabs on the
fruit (see apple picture on the left). The diseased leaves will fall early
and the fruit will become increasingly covered in scabs -
eventually the fruit skin will crack. |
Although scab is unsightly on the
apples, if the skin is peeled before eating, the fruits will still taste the same.
How
to Treat Scab
There are chemicals to treat infected trees, but they are
systemic which means the chemicals are absorbed by the tree and
spread throughout the fruit.
The
best solution is to remove and burn diseased fruit as soon as
possible, and do the same with leaves, both on and off the tree.
The life cycle of scab disease is heavily dependant on the spores
over-wintering in the fallen leaves. With this in mind, clear
and burn all leaves which fall in the autumn and
winter.
If you are planting apple trees, avoid low
lying areas where air movement is restricted. Plant the trees in the open where they
will benefit from good air circulation, avoiding damp conditions.
GO
TO THE GARDEN PEST AND DISEASE MAIN PAGE FOR
PESTS AND DISEASES CLASSIFIED BY PLANT
END
OF ARTICLE
|
