Mushroom on an apple tree.

Before starting to consider measures to combat fungi on an apple tree, it is necessary to determine the causes of their occurrence, varieties, on which parts of the tree fungi can appear and how to fight depending on this, as well as what preventive measures can be taken. A mushroom is not only an object with a stem and a cap. There are a large number of fungi, it can be mold, lichen, moss and many other varieties.

Diseases of the apple tree.

The following types of fungal diseases are characteristic of the apple tree:

• Scab belongs to harmful diseases.
• Mold. May vary in color, depending on belonging to a particular species.
• Rust. The defeat occurs with the help of rusty species.
• Cytosporosis. The causative agent is a microscopic fungus of cytospores.
• Anthracnose.
• Tuberculation. The causative agent is the fungus Nectria.
• Alternaria, moniliosis.
• The milky sheen is characterized by penetration into the affected areas of the tree.
• Black cancer.

As far as lichens and mosses are concerned, how harmful they are over the years has been a topic of controversy among many scientists. But most experts believe that their presence cannot lead to the death of a tree.

Varieties.

Not all fungi can be fatal to a tree. There are such fungi that grow on apple trees and which are well in symbiosis with this culture.

• Parasitic. Many of you may have seen fungi on trees that look like a sponge or sea shell. Many people say that tinder fungus can harm plantings, but this is a wrong judgment. Most tinder fungi spawn on rotting, old, or dead trees. But there are also such varieties that can appear on a young tree. Many of them can live under the bark of a tree for several years and feast on the core and other parts without making themselves felt. The type of parasite also affects the nature of the lesion formed. A large number of varieties can be found in garden plots:
• False - there is a resolution of the white core.
• Plum red - the core and branches are destroyed.
• Flat - destruction of the yellowish-white color, stimulates the plant to dry out and become fragile.
• Real tinder - in places of rot (usually white or light yellow), the core becomes brittle, begins to exfoliate along one-year-old rings.
• Grayish yellow - rot at the core begins to acquire a brown tint, is characterized by rapid spread.
• Scaly - rot at the core is white.

The fungus that is on the surface of the wood does not pose any danger to the tree. The danger is represented by those fungi that are able to penetrate the tissues. They begin to corrode wood, and rot begins to form, and this can affect the physiological processes of the tree. The apple tree begins to weaken, and then dies altogether. There are fungi that can be detrimental to the tree, and this will happen in a relatively short time. And there are those who can even suck out all the juices from the tree for 10 years.

• Polypore and measures to combat him. If you correctly determine the type of tinder fungus and its features, then this will help you protect your apple trees from negative consequences. Do not think that this mushroom will be so harmless. From the moment when the first fungal deposits appear, before you notice that the yield will significantly decrease, it may take 5 years.Therefore, if all measures are taken in time, then there is an opportunity to save the tree. As a last resort, you can plant a new tree while you deal with the infested apple tree. You will not lose your harvest and will spend your time usefully. If, after annual treatments, the fungus reappears, it must be cut and burned. If this type of mushroom still appeared on your tree, then what can you do? Cut off the mushroom and process the cuts with copper sulfate or garden varnish. The stems must be processed with clay, adding casein glue and karbofos. This will prevent the occurrence of the fungus in the future.
• Symbiosis with an apple tree. Symbiosis is a kind of friendship between plants and mushrooms. Such a connection is sometimes even necessary for both. In particular, garden entoloma very often enters into symbiosis. But it is very difficult to fully understand such a connection and there are no reliable facts that could judge the symbiosis in principle.

Fungal diseases.

Finding out the reasons that resulted in the appearance of fungi on the tree, making the correct diagnosis and taking therapeutic measures at the very beginning of the disease is already half of a successful operation. Let's take a look at the most common types of fungi that form on a tree trunk.

• Black cancer. A symptom of this disease is the appearance of brown or black spots on the bark of the tree. Before engaging in treatment, you need to determine what caused this phenomenon. The disease is characterized by the rapidity of spreading and reproduction along the entire trunk, reaching the branches of the second order. At the very beginning, you will notice the appearance of spots, which begin to dry out over time, leaving a small crust behind. This leads to disruption of the movement of sap, which will lead to the death of the tree. Most often, old trees are infected with this disease, which are often no longer given the same attention and care as young trees. The success of the treatment depends directly on where its focus is and how it spreads through the tree. As soon as the first spots appear, you need to start a series of activities that will help preserve your tree.
• Use a metal brush to clean the damaged areas.
• Treat stains with copper sulfate or Bordeaux liquid.

It is good to carry out such treatments as a preventive measure every year. In addition to such treatments, it is often possible to find such a situation that the tree trunk becomes black. This indicates the presence of black cancer. It is very difficult to fight this disease. And if they did not take measures in time, then it would not be possible to save the tree at all. It is for this reason that it is necessary to begin to carry out both therapeutic and preventive measures on time. But the main thing is that one must not forget to carry out the treatment of damaged areas with the help of a garden varnish.

• Cytosporosis. This disease has some similarities with black cancer. At the same time, the bark does not change its color, the appearance of blisters simply begins. If you press on them, they can be easily separated from the barrel. On such dying sites, black mounds begin to appear, in which the foci of decay are localized. The disease appears due to a microscopic fungus, which in most cases can be found on those parts of the trunk that have been damaged, there are cracks and burns from direct sun. Such a fungus releases toxins that begin to poison the bark, while the infection spreads throughout the tree. As a treatment, spraying in the spring is a good idea, before the buds begin to swell. spray the entire crown of the trunk with the Hom preparation (carefully read the instructions before use). Before flowering begins, it is necessary to treat the tree with a preparation containing copper (copper sulfate).And finally, after the end of flowering, they again undergo processing with the help of Homa. Also an important point is the whitewashing of the trunk and skeletal branches before the winter period. And it will be necessary to repeat this procedure when spring comes.
• Plaque with green color. A considerable number of summer residents were faced with such a raid. It is not particularly dangerous for the tree, but it can talk about the formation of lichens. Such plaque can be easily removed with a brush. There are no fears. Most often they appear from the north side, or if the weather conditions are sufficiently humid. To avoid such a situation, it is necessary to process it with copper sulfate in the autumn. In spring, whitewash or paint using a special paint for the trunks. In order for such a whitewash to bring a guaranteed result, it is better to add copper sulfate to the paint.

We carry out autumn processing.

You can carry out a large number of tree treatments even in the summer, but if the neighbors in your summer cottage do not pay much attention to their plantings, then there is a possibility that pests from that area will move to yours as soon as warm days come. It is for this reason, in the autumn, when the leaf fall ends, it is necessary to process the apple trees.

• Clean the bark from unnecessary fragments with a soft brush.
• Collect all debris from the site: fallen apples and leaves.
• If there are leaves on the tree, then try to remove them as well.
• Everything collected is subject to incineration.

It is also necessary to perform a number of mandatory works.

• Treat the area over the entire width of the crown with fungicidal preparations. Namely, the use of Bordeaux liquid and copper sulfate help in the destruction of many mushroom spores, which will help protect your fruit crops.
• The trunk circle must be loosened and dug up.
• Wood ash will need to be added to the digging sites. This trick can improve the immunity of the crop, and also acts as a food in the springtime.

Preventive measures.

If you want to protect your tree from death, as well as to secure the future harvest, then it is better to think in advance about a number of preventive measures that will serve as an obstacle to the infection of many diseases.

• Check the condition of the bark so that it is not damaged.
• Dry and damaged branches must be removed.
• There is no need to wait for pests to appear, it is better to follow the prevention.
• Whitewash boles and skeletal tree branches in time.
• As soon as you notice a wound in the tree, immediately treat it with a garden varnish or other special preparations.
• All cuts and cuts are to be processed with copper sulphate, after which they are treated with a lubricant.
• As soon as you notice the formation of fungi, you need to cut them off the tree before they spread the spores.
• Conduct filling of the appeared hollow.
• With the onset of spring, all the leaves that have fallen near the tree must be collected and burned.

Various diseases and attacks of insect pests pose a great danger to the crop. especially if these pests carry various fungal diseases. Therefore, it is very important to carry out preventive actions that will help protect your tree.

Types of fungi and how to deal with them.

As soon as you notice signs of fungal growth on the tree diseases, it is necessary to start taking a set of measures aimed at saving the tree.

• Chaga. Most of the mushroom outgrowths found on the trunk of a tree belong to the species of tinder fungus, and they are parasites. You need to start the fight as early as possible so that it is possible to save the tree.
• Basidiomycetes. This is the highest fungal organism. The organ of sporulation is basidium. The development of some types of basidia occurs openly.Preventive measures are spraying with special preparations or planting those varieties that have good immunity against rust.
• Lichen. These groups of lower plants are linked by symbiosis. If there are not many of them, then there is nothing to fear, but it is still better to clean it with a brush so that pests cannot accumulate under it.
• Oyster mushrooms. There are 7 varieties of oyster mushrooms. Moreover, 5 of them can be eaten. So, for example, oyster can grow on fruit trees in any area. The question arises as to what impact it can have on different cultures. In fact, it refers to wood-destroying formations. But most gardeners' opinions boil down to the fact that it poses no danger. Oyster mushrooms are not capable of harming living trees. Even if they appeared on an adult tree, then they feed only on bark, which is already under the influence of tinder fungi. But it is important to note that if there is no oyster mushroom, then more dangerous types of fungi may appear.

Fungus control measures on various parts of the tree.

• Fungi on the roots. The defeat of the root system by fungi occurs relatively rarely. It is possible only to be infected by dangerous bacteria, which can lead to the development of root cancer.
• Fungi On trunks and bark. The main thing with such a lesion is to clean the affected areas of the tree well, to process it with means containing copper, and also to process it with a protective putty.
• Fungi In the hollows. If your tree has become the owner of a large hollow, then most experts recommend cleaning it with a skin, filling it with rubble and covering it with cement mortar. If the hollow is small, then it can be covered with a garden varnish.

Instead of wasting your time and effort saving an infected tree, it's best to keep a close eye on the health of your garden. Cut dry and damaged branches in time, collect all debris and leaves from the site, carry out preventive treatments. Observing these simple rules, your garden will delight you with its healthy and beautiful appearance for a long time.