| I have a fungus on my plum tree and need to know how to get rid of it. |
| The control depends upon the fungus. Brown rot is the most common disease of plums. Although the disease can attack blossoms, spurs, and shoots, we are often is not aware of the problem until the ripening fruit rapidly develops a brown rot. When blossoms are infected, they turn brown and remain on the tree into the summer. The brown rot fungus may also move down the blossoms to the base of the flower cluster and into the fruiting spur. Cankers may then develop which eventually girdle the branch or twig. Young shoots may also be infected near the tips, which then wither rapidly. Brown rot may develop on green fruits as small, circular spots that are light brown in color. However, the disease is most serious on ripe maturing fruits. When weather is favorable, entire fruits may rot in a few hours. In wet weather pale brownish, felt-like masses of fungus spores cover the rotting fruit. Rotted fruits may fall to the ground, or they may become shrunken and remain on the trees as "mummies." If this sounds like the fungus, you can begin control early in the season. Look for a fruit tree fungicide in your garden center and apply at the proper stages, beginning with bud break. |
