apple tree- black branches

emendez · 18th August 2010, 08:38 AM

I got an dwarf apple tree 5 years ago. Last year, 2009 noticed that some branches were turning black.
This year 2010 is worst. All branches are black and leaves have lots of white long spots on both sides.
I would like to save my apple tree. What should I do?

Thank you for the advise

Eloy Mendez

Bowani Siam · 18th August 2010, 09:44 AM

Hello there dude,

The 'black' on the branches could POSSIBLY be sooty mould, and the white spots could be a scale insect of some sort. Hard to tell without pictures.

Is it possible to scrape off the white 'spots'? If you snip off a branch, is it still green inside?

emendez · 18th August 2010, 09:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by very_sarcastic

Hello there dude,

The 'black' on the branches could POSSIBLY be sooty mould, and the white spots could be a scale insect of some sort. Hard to tell without pictures.

Is it possible to scrape off the white 'spots'? If you snip off a branch, is it still green inside?

I will include some pictures tonight. Yes, white 'spots' can be scraped off. I noticed few ants going up and down the tree. Ant eggs, perhaps?
I did snip off a branch and it is green inside.

Thanks

Bowani Siam · 18th August 2010, 02:10 PM

Sounds like sooty mould. It is a mould that grows on honeydew, which is secreted by pests like scale insects, mealy bugs and aphids. The black mould is not actually attacking the plant directly and can be (labouriously) removed.

Ants 'harvest' the honeydew, which explains the high number of them on the plant.

Sooty mold - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

18th August 2010, 08:38 AM	#1
emendez I'm new here so be nice Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Victoria Posts: 2	apple tree- black branches I got an dwarf apple tree 5 years ago. Last year, 2009 noticed that some branches were turning black. This year 2010 is worst. All branches are black and leaves have lots of white long spots on both sides. I would like to save my apple tree. What should I do? Thank you for the advise Eloy Mendez

18th August 2010, 09:44 AM	#2
Bowani Siam Mature tree Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Sydney Posts: 319	Re: apple tree- black branches Hello there dude, The 'black' on the branches could POSSIBLY be sooty mould, and the white spots could be a scale insect of some sort. Hard to tell without pictures. Is it possible to scrape off the white 'spots'? If you snip off a branch, is it still green inside?

18th August 2010, 02:10 PM	#4
Bowani Siam Mature tree Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Sydney Posts: 319	Re: apple tree- black branches Sounds like sooty mould. It is a mould that grows on honeydew, which is secreted by pests like scale insects, mealy bugs and aphids. The black mould is not actually attacking the plant directly and can be (labouriously) removed. Ants 'harvest' the honeydew, which explains the high number of them on the plant. Sooty mold - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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