Apple chlorosis: treatment, prevention, signs

The article presents in detail the chlorosis of the apple tree: treatment, preventive measures, signs and causes of the disease.

Apple chlorosis: treatment, basic information

Apple chlorosis

Chlorosis is a disease that can affect many garden and horticultural crops. It should be borne in mind that chlorosis progresses to a particular extent in early and cold spring, when the soil and plants lack all the necessary trace elements and vitamins, as well as sunlight. During this period, plants are especially vulnerable to this disease, and all the conditions that develop, on the contrary, are conducive to the fact that chlorosis not only manifests itself, but also expands, capturing new territories and plants, crops.

If chlorosis on apple leaves is not detected in time and is not stopped, then the tree will be completely infected. During the season, it will hurt very much, metabolic processes will be disrupted, tissues will be destroyed, rot and spots will appear, which will just signal that chlorosis is only progressing, and the plant needs measures to combat. As a result, if the symptoms of chlorosis are not detected in time, then all this will negatively affect the future harvest. As a result, the plant will fade, wither, fruiting will decrease to a minimum, the fruits will be completely tasteless, their versatility is lacking. In general, it depends on the gardener how soon he detects the most basic signs of chlorosis, and how soon he begins to actively combat it. Only in this case it will be possible to achieve an excellent result, to protect the tree, to save both it and the future harvest.

In this article, we will dwell in more detail on the description of the most key signs of chlorosis, as well as on why this disease develops and spreads so quickly in apple crops. We will also talk about the most basic and effective measures to combat chlorosis, and describe preventive forms of struggle that will prevent the development of this disease, preserve the plant's immunity, its stress resistance and, accordingly, the possibility of fruiting.

Apple chlorosis: the main signs of the disease

Apple chlorosis

Chlorosis is one of the diseases that forms and progresses due to the fact that the nutritional process is disrupted in the apple tree. Symptoms can be noticed if you look very closely at the plant, its leafy part, branches and the trunk itself. As a rule, chlorosis is very strongly reflected in the color of the leaves - they become lethargic, pale, which is one of the signs that not everything is in order with the plant, and it needs attention in order to determine what actually happened to it ...

Chlorosis can also be found in an apple tree if the leaves have the following symptoms:

- they begin to turn pale, and then they already differ in yellowing. As a result, the leaves are covered with small black dots that can connect, as a result, the leaf has the most painful appearance, which indicates that, in general, certain negative processes are taking place with the entire apple tree, and you should immediately pay attention to treatment and care, otherwise there is a high risk of losing a tree in principle
- the leaves can turn very intensely yellow, while at the edges of the tissue they begin to dry out and die off, which is also a sign that the tree is sick with chlorosis, and it is worth immediately taking some measures to fight the infection
- the leaves can completely lose their color, turning pale. Then they completely crumble, and this, by the way, is a sign not only of chlorosis, but also of some other infections and diseases. One way or another, all these are signs that something is wrong with the tree, and that various signs of diseases should be considered further, which can be incredibly scary for the apple tree and for the future harvest. It is also worth focusing on the fact that, depending on the reason for which this disease was provoked, the symptoms may also be different, and therefore very special attention should be paid to any little thing. Therefore, of course, let's pay attention to the reasons for the development of chlorosis.

Apple chlorosis: photo, reasons for development

Apple chlorosis: photo

The yellowing of the leaves can begin at the very top of the shoots. This will be a sure sign that the soil is deficient in some trace elements, primarily iron. Also, the reason may be that the apple tree itself cannot normally perceive these components, and because of this, similar symptoms appear. One way or another, this becomes one of the obvious reasons why chlorosis is formed on the plant in the future. The second reason is that the plant lacks nitrogenous compounds. Because of this, on the lower part of the branches, the leaves become completely pale, colorless and lifeless. The third reason why chlorosis develops is that young apple trees still do not have enough strength and ability to develop and take all the most necessary and nutrients directly from the soil, which is why they are deficient and, as a result, develop very dangerous diseases that can lead to further death of the plant.

With a lack of manganese or magnesium, the tree begins to undergo the development of the so-called spotted chlorosis. Also, this form of the disease can develop due to the fact that there is an excess of lime in the soil, and then the tree simply cannot withstand such an imbalance. Development and growth slow down noticeably, which leads to the fact that the tree, in principle, begins to turn yellow, dry out. You shouldn't even think about any fruiting and talk about it - it becomes impossible, since due to an imbalance, normal ovaries simply do not form. It is more clearly better to consider a photo of apple trees that have been affected by chlorosis, since it is always easier to see in the picture the various signs and forms of the development of this disease.

Also, the crown can generally turn yellow very sharply, not a single fresh and green leaf will remain on it. This is due to the fact that there is a meager amount of sulfur and oxygen in the soil, and the tree simply has nowhere to feed on these necessary substances and components. In particular, this can happen with an apple tree if the gardener is not very careful about choosing a place for planting and is rather dismissive of preparing the soil. Too heavy soils lack ventilation, they are heavy, not saturated with oxygen, and because of this, the tree that is in them runs the risk of contracting or acquiring a dangerous disease, in particular chlorosis.

At the same time, experienced gardeners urge: it is possible to determine the cause of chlorosis only at the very first, early stages of this disease. Then the affected area becomes more and more, signs of some other lesions and infections may appear, and as a result, sometimes it is not possible to correctly identify the disease. Leaves and shoots are quickly affected, chlorosis can be disguised as other diseases. In general, the more neglected the form, the less chances that the gardener will cope with the disease completely, and that there will be positive dynamics in the state of the tree. It is also important to emphasize that chlorosis is, in general, a non-infectious disease, so it is quite simple to cure it.For this, the tree and soil should be provided with those components that they lack so much for normal development, and after that the tree will feel much better, the disease will gradually recede. But, again, you should pay attention to the fact that only if a disease is detected at an early stage, it is possible to defeat it. If the form is completely neglected, then usually the tree gradually dies, and it is no longer possible to reanimate it with any substances and methods.

There is also a viral form of chlorosis, and in this case, mainly stone fruit crops - cherries, plums or raspberries - are affected. The apple tree rarely suffers from viral chlorosis, but nevertheless it is worth paying attention to the course of the disease and its main signs, since today many diseases mutate, even those cultures that previously seemed to be out of the risk zone and any damage are beginning to infect ... There are also certain symptoms by which it can be determined that the plant has been affected by chlorosis. You should also pay great attention to it. Symptoms of infectious diseases are sometimes very similar to the symptoms of chlorosis, consider similar infectious diseases in order to be able to recognize and distinguish symptoms and, accordingly, reduce the risk of infection with bacteria in your apple trees.

Similar diseases

Apple mosaic - when the deciduous part of the apple tree is actively developing, with the mosaic it can change its color, and also pronounced stripes and spots appear on the leaves, which just indicate that certain changes are taking place with the plant in general, and you need to pay attention to them , in order to secure your landing from further negative development of the disease. At first, these stripes and spots become bright, yellow in color, and then they begin to fade. This suggests that the tissue on the leaves began to die off, and an irreversible negative process was launched. Affected leaves do not stay on the tree for long - they fall off over time. Chlorosis can manifest itself in this case not only on the leaves themselves, but also its signs can be found on the shoot and on the fruits themselves. With a mosaic, fruiting can shift for several days or even weeks, and the yield is almost halved, which is very strongly felt, and not at all from the best side. If the gardener does not provide any treatment to the tree, then fruiting may disappear altogether, and the tree will stand with its sickly appearance until it completely dies on its own.

Chlorotic ring spot - This disease manifests itself as randomly located yellow spots on the leaf blades. Small spots gradually grow, because of this, the leaves cease to be green, and a ring forms on them. The leaves gradually lose their shape, they deform, fall off. The causative agent of this disease is the chlorotic spot virus of the same name. Due to the development of the disease, apples practically stop growing, and the shoots completely stop developing, due to which there is no harvest. The trunk remains thin, its circumference does not increase, which also indicates that some unnatural processes are taking place in the plant, which do not allow the apple tree to develop further. Both diseases that we have just described fall under the category of viral chlorosis, and these signs and symptoms should also be monitored closely. If you find them in time, then there is a great chance that this tree will be saved, and the harvest will also be restored, but already in the next season. Of course, the question immediately arises of how to treat chlorosis, what measures must be taken in order to save the plant, return it to its former majesty, restore growth, development and fruiting.In the next part of the article, we will just dwell on these questions in more detail and will try to give the most accurate and relevant answers that will help to cope with chlorosis both for beginners, and already for those who have experience in caring for apple crops, but they are still looking for new ways in order to improve the general condition of the tree, its vital activity and fruiting.

Apple chlorosis: treatment

Chlorosis can manifest itself completely at any time. The tree should be treated immediately to prevent the progression of the disease and its spread to healthy crops. At the same time, it is necessary to carefully note any symptomatology, and at the first signs to take measures to combat this serious ailment.
In general, chlorosis can be fought with two main methods. The first method is to spray the top of the tree with special preparations; the second method consists in introducing the necessary components and preparations into the near-stem circle. That is, these are root and foliar treatments. Both methods are quite effective, depending on how advanced the disease is and what its scale is. There are also some atypical measures to combat chlorosis, but again, the choice of method depends on the degree of progress of the disease, and on what form of the disease the gardener is facing.

Iron chlorosis - occurs in apple trees due to iron deficiency. In this case, a lot depends on the gardener. He must find ways to make it easier for the tree to perceive the hardware as a component. To do this, it is necessary to use solutions for spraying wood, which contain large quantities of iron components in their composition. You can use some drugs based on the iron component. Such drugs include Ferovit and Brexil, as well as Agricola. The choice depends on the preferences of the gardener, as well as on which of these drugs is freely available, and can be purchased at any shop for gardeners. About two or three treatments should be carried out, observing breaks of 12 days between them. Experienced summer residents say that it is better not to use any other drugs, but to prepare the solutions yourself. They are safer for the human body, and these independently created drugs are perceived by plants much faster and more successfully. For example, you can use a solution based on citric acid and ferrous sulfate. Another solution is prepared on the basis of ascorbic acid and all the same ferrous sulfate. The gardener determines the concentration depending on the age of the plant and on its general condition. In addition, ferrous sulfate is a substance that is incredibly beneficial for the soil. So you can mix it with soil, soil formulations, in which case it will be incredibly effective, and will have a really positive effect on the general condition of the plant.

If the gardener wants to use folk recipes, then they are also there. For example, since ancient times, hardened iron objects, which were located directly under the apple tree, were used to combat iron chlorosis. It was believed that calcined iron nails can be driven into the root part, which should be taken very carefully, because mechanical damage can be inflicted directly on the root system itself. Also, instead of liquids, gardeners use some dry preparations. For example, tablets that have a special name for this - dry injection. Moreover, after the tablet has been introduced into the soil, it is necessary to water it abundantly, then the agent will spread along the entire length of the root, and the effect from it will be more noticeable and faster.

Nitrogen and potassium chlorosis - it occurs, respectively, due to the fact that the tree lacks a nitrogen-potassium component, which can be replenished with the help of an appropriate mixture and dressings, where nitrogen and potassium will be the main characters. Work on the introduction of these dressings is best appointed for the spring period, then it will be perceived by the tree much faster and will give its positive effect. Also, in order to replenish the nitrogen-potassium deficiency, you can use the following substances, agents and components:

- urea
- ammonium sulfate
- potassium sulfate
- nitroammofoska
- azophoska.

The number of components depends on how much the disease was started, as well as on the age of the tree. In general, some ingredients in small quantities can even be mixed with each other, which will bring even more positive effects. The main thing is to be very careful with the substances, since an excess of them can cause a serious blow to the plant, and make its condition only worse. Urea can be applied not only under the root, but also on its basis to prepare liquids, which are then sprayed on the tree, its crown and trunk. In addition, do not forget about the benefits of organic matter - some organic fertilizers contain a sufficient amount of nitrogen. So you can put mullein, chicken droppings under the tree, or use the most ordinary compost, the effect will be very visible and incredibly significant.

Potassium fertilizers can be applied twice a year - the first time it is applied in the spring, but the second time it is applied closer to autumn, when the tree is actively preparing for the winter period. At the same time, both when using potassium fertilizers and when using nitrogen-containing fertilizers, dosages must be observed, otherwise you can cause even more damage to the tree. An excess of nitrogen, for example, has a very negative effect not only on the general state of the planting, but also on fruiting and, accordingly, on yield.
Manganese and magnesium chlorosis - in this case, the deficiency can be compensated for by the fact that the gardener will add fertilizing to the soil. In addition, you can safely spray the leaves, this part of the plant responds well to many manipulations. In general, it is possible that such an imbalance will recover much faster through the leaves, so it is worth paying special attention to this.

To make up for the lack of magnesium, you can use two methods. The first method is that right under the root, the gardener introduces a certain amount of the so-called dolomite flour, as well as a solution of magnesium nitrate. This mixture very quickly restores the tree, so it is considered one of the most effective. The second method - the leaves are sprayed with magnesium sulfate, which is diluted in accordance with the dosages indicated in the instructions. Both methods are generally effective, they can be used at the same time, but at the same time you should try not to satiate the planting, otherwise this can only make the tree worse.
Manganese is also replenished in several ways:

- wood ash is introduced under the root, while it can be perfectly combined with manganese sludge
- the leaves are sprayed with potassium permanganate, the solution can be prepared weak so as not to burn the leaves.

Spraying is carried out either early in the morning or late in the evening, when the sun has already gone down. It is not recommended to do this in cloudy or rainy weather; in this case, there will be absolutely no benefit from spraying. It is also worth remembering that it is more effective to apply top dressing in the spring than in the fall. Although trees need general mineral mixtures in autumn, as they play a very important role in preparing for frost and winter in general.

Sulfur starvation of an apple tree, a lack of oxygen or an excess of salts are also several problems that the apple tree faces during its growth and development, and which can provoke the development of chlorosis. To make up for the lack of oxygen, you must use one or more of the following methods:

- the trunk circle must be loosened as often as possible, especially after watering
- organic fertilizers are applied in accordance with the schedule, you can do it often, but in small portions
- the soil around the trunk is mulched, for this they use peat, compost, straw, sawdust.

If the groundwater is very close, then it can also provoke chlorosis. In this case, it will already be difficult to change something, because the tree has already formed on the site. Alternatively, you can transplant the tree higher, on a hill, where the groundwater will be much lower. At the same time, of course, the tree will experience severe stress, so you should be very careful and careful, and initially choose a place for planting an apple tree that will keep the tree safe.

If suddenly the gardener noticed sulfur chlorosis, then this indicates that the tree does not have enough sulfur. In this case, it is necessary to make some root dressing, which will be able to reanimate the tree as soon as possible. As top dressing for these purposes, you can use gypsum or ammonium sulfate, potassium sulfate or ammofoska. Also, experienced gardeners recommend using magnesium sulfate or some organic fertilizers for these purposes, which can also help the tree in this situation. Not all organic matter here may be suitable - it is recommended to take manure or humus. It is possible to use organic matter precisely because sulfur is one of its obligatory components, so taking organic parts, the gardener will not fail with his own choice.

Preventive actions

But there are also several preventive measures, thanks to which you can simply prevent the development of chlorosis. The most important thing is that the gardener must be able to correctly determine the soil composition, and only in this case he will understand which components are worth adding, and which components are already enough. The most important thing is to apply only those fertilizers that are really lacking, otherwise the imbalance can only aggravate the situation, and the tree will not take root at all in the soil composition. In order to protect the apple tree in calcareous soils, as well as in those soils where the percentage of lime is very high, it is necessary to treat the soil using a method such as plastering. Experienced gardeners advise to apply gypsum in early spring, and the near-stem circles must be carefully dug up so that the gypsum is evenly distributed. If the soil is too acidic, it should be limed, and for this they take either garden lime or dolomite flour. Both components will help the soil become more balanced, reduce acidity to a neutral indicator, which will have an excellent effect on the growth and development of the apple tree and, accordingly, on the state of the future harvest. In general, only with a competent and professional approach can negative manifestations from plants be avoided, so a lot depends on the gardener, on whether he wants to learn and make the life of the tree only better.

Apple chlorosis