Peach Problem?

clementine · 19th May 2007, 08:02 AM

Hi , Ol?, G'day,

I have spotted these purply growths appearing on a few of the leaves of my
3yr old (when bought) but newly planted (from pot) Peach tree. The ground is a golden colour, pretty sandy and drains well. I have added nutrients.
Any ideas out there

Also the top 400mm seems not to be producing leaves. Should I cut this off and if yes where do I make the cut?

Many Beers

Nick.

Ekka · 19th May 2007, 01:32 PM

Looks like fungal related disease

http://www.caf.wvu.edu/kearneysville.../omplfcrl.html

From this site http://www.nysaes.cornell.edu/pp/ext.../disindx.shtml

Click on the Peach Leaf Curl html, another great resource this one. I'll have to put it in Tree Fact Factory.

clementine · 19th May 2007, 02:39 PM

Yep! Looks very much like the culprit Eric, many thanks.

From what I read I've been spreading it by spraying the leaves during watering.

Can't do much about it now it seems, have to wait till the leaves drop in the autumn and fung'it.

How about that dead top section? (makes it sound like a big tree when you say that)

Cheers

Sean Freeman · 19th May 2007, 02:51 PM

It certainly could be that there is some leaf curl problems, but it looks a lot more like mineral deficiencies to me, now that could be simple the soil itself or could be related to the root system of the tree.

If its the soil thats relatively easily fixed with regular applications of trace elements through your watering can, try the simple basic approach first before buy and applying anything powerful to knock out fungi etc...

The site Ekka put up is most excellent and I would definately put that one on your favorites, if you look at the various documents relating to peach leaf curl you'll see whilst there are strong similarities to the curled parts of the leaves on your little tree the colouration in your leaves is quite striking, regular and intervienal, cholrotic. However since you write that you have added nutrients I suspect the problem relates to trace elements, and this would be common in very sandy soils.

Ekka · 19th May 2007, 05:01 PM

Boa, no mulch either, I think you'll have to go visit.

Do they have pirhana's in the rivers there? Crikey, that'd make interesting fishing ... gotta get that charlie carp alternative you know.

We used to have a lot of fruit trees back in Adelaide, fruit fly free you know. The hot dry summers meant lots of watering and dad always said ... never on the leaves.

Up here, dont have those types of fruit trees much.

To enrich a sandy soil and add some substance back on the Gold Coast I used to put in spent mushroom compost (cheap).

Sean Freeman · 19th May 2007, 05:58 PM

Yes, always mulch, always.

Tried desperately to grow tropical peaches here in Townsville for abour five years when I first came out, failed completely. My location is not suited to them and not prepared to create large shade structure etc to protect the young trees...ah well just have to look enviously at growing locations like clementine's.

clementine · 20th May 2007, 07:42 AM

Ol? Sean,

You and Eric always seem to butt heads a little on the diagnosis, nice to have another opinion though and could be a combination of the two factors.
Trace elements? What are we talking here? Could this be the cause of the yellowing leaves also?

I take it these are not found in the universal all purpose fertiliser (little blue balls)that I am using, and I can't get the fish emulsion or seaweed extract, so what do I look for? Some sort of compost?

Should I cut the dead bit off just above where it changes colour?

Cheers

(Tried to reply last night but the site wouldn't let me post the reply)

Ekka · 20th May 2007, 01:49 PM

This is my web page on fertilizing.

http://www.weareallabouttrees.com.au/fertilizing.html

Talks about trace elements. Mineral deficiencies or even too much of a mineral can affect the tree. Yellowing, perhaps not enough iron etc. Chances of deficiencies in a sandy soil is higher so regular supply of trace elements should help.

Compost is good, I suggested spent mushroom compost, any mushroom farms around?

Sean Freeman · 20th May 2007, 01:54 PM

I can only call it as I see it, and the pattern of leaf yellowing looks more like Iron chlorosis to me, but it could also be a Zinc deficiency, there are subtle differences in they ways these and other mineral deficiencies manifest themselves, many are common to sandy soils.

What I would do is get yourself on of those cheap simple soil pH test kits and get some idea of the pH of your soil. The ideal pH for peach trees in commercial orchards is between 6 and 7.

Applying Chelated iron in the watering can is very effective when your soils are acidic (low pH)

I've attached a file from Victoria in Oz relating to some of the basic symptoms of mineral deficiencies in fruit trees, the basic rules apply to your trees as well as Aussie trees re foliage markers...having said all this it is possible that some fungal pathogen is at work.

I wouldn't remove any branches just yet, unless you are 100% certain they are dead, if you do remove them don't keep them in your garden/compost just in case fungi are present.

AG0089.pdf

clementine · 20th May 2007, 03:17 PM

Many thanks Both

A bit to think on and some testing to be done.

The dead section on top did develope a couple of leaves but they dropped off a few weeks ago and no sign of anymore.

No mushy farms Eric, here it's hectare after hectare of apple mainly, lots of grapevines, some peach, some orange and a few lemons.
Thousands of hectares of pine forest and many eucalyptus trees too, some cork, oak etc.
The oranges seemed to ripen midwinter (january, february) but nobody was picking them. I saw some mushed up the other day on their way in the back of a 4x4 to feed cattle with, well, I was lucky he never hit me as at the time I was mountain biking back up his tiny farmtrack and almost ended up in the brambles. Probably shouldn't have been there so said "bom dia" and went.

Many beers

19th May 2007, 01:32 PM	#2 (permalink)
Ekka Eric Frei Administrator - Brisbane L5 (Dip) Hort Cert III Arb + some Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Brisbane Posts: 6,943	Looks like fungal related disease http://www.caf.wvu.edu/kearneysville.../omplfcrl.html From this site http://www.nysaes.cornell.edu/pp/ext.../disindx.shtml Click on the Peach Leaf Curl html, another great resource this one. I'll have to put it in Tree Fact Factory. __________________ Remember to use the "search" function, if you have answers/questions post them so everyone can benefit. Free Tree and Green Industry Link Directory Qualified Brisbane Tree Lopping \| Stump Grinding and Stump Removal Brisbane Brisbane Tree Care, Consultations, Developer, Tree and Arborist Reports Forum Sponsors

19th May 2007, 02:39 PM	#3 (permalink)
clementine Mature tree Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Central Portugal Posts: 288	Yep! Looks very much like the culprit Eric, many thanks. From what I read I've been spreading it by spraying the leaves during watering. Can't do much about it now it seems, have to wait till the leaves drop in the autumn and fung'it. How about that dead top section? (makes it sound like a big tree when you say that) Cheers __________________ Meddle not in the affairs of dragons - for you are crunchy and taste of chicken! Builder in Central Portugal

19th May 2007, 02:51 PM	#4 (permalink)
Sean Freeman PDF King & Arborist Extrodinaire Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Townsville Nth Queensland & Gold Coast Sth Queensland Posts: 1,671	It certainly could be that there is some leaf curl problems, but it looks a lot more like mineral deficiencies to me, now that could be simple the soil itself or could be related to the root system of the tree. If its the soil thats relatively easily fixed with regular applications of trace elements through your watering can, try the simple basic approach first before buy and applying anything powerful to knock out fungi etc... The site Ekka put up is most excellent and I would definately put that one on your favorites, if you look at the various documents relating to peach leaf curl you'll see whilst there are strong similarities to the curled parts of the leaves on your little tree the colouration in your leaves is quite striking, regular and intervienal, cholrotic. However since you write that you have added nutrients I suspect the problem relates to trace elements, and this would be common in very sandy soils. __________________ Sean Trees are poems that earth writes upon the sky, We fell them down and turn them into paper, That we may record our emptiness. - Kahlil Gibran

19th May 2007, 05:01 PM	#5 (permalink)
Ekka Eric Frei Administrator - Brisbane L5 (Dip) Hort Cert III Arb + some Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Brisbane Posts: 6,943	Boa, no mulch either, I think you'll have to go visit. Do they have pirhana's in the rivers there? Crikey, that'd make interesting fishing ... gotta get that charlie carp alternative you know. We used to have a lot of fruit trees back in Adelaide, fruit fly free you know. The hot dry summers meant lots of watering and dad always said ... never on the leaves. Up here, dont have those types of fruit trees much. To enrich a sandy soil and add some substance back on the Gold Coast I used to put in spent mushroom compost (cheap). __________________ Remember to use the "search" function, if you have answers/questions post them so everyone can benefit. Free Tree and Green Industry Link Directory Qualified Brisbane Tree Lopping \| Stump Grinding and Stump Removal Brisbane Brisbane Tree Care, Consultations, Developer, Tree and Arborist Reports Forum Sponsors

19th May 2007, 05:58 PM	#6 (permalink)
Sean Freeman PDF King & Arborist Extrodinaire Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Townsville Nth Queensland & Gold Coast Sth Queensland Posts: 1,671	Yes, always mulch, always. Tried desperately to grow tropical peaches here in Townsville for abour five years when I first came out, failed completely. My location is not suited to them and not prepared to create large shade structure etc to protect the young trees...ah well just have to look enviously at growing locations like clementine's. __________________ Sean Trees are poems that earth writes upon the sky, We fell them down and turn them into paper, That we may record our emptiness. - Kahlil Gibran

20th May 2007, 07:42 AM	#7 (permalink)
clementine Mature tree Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Central Portugal Posts: 288	Ol? Sean, You and Eric always seem to butt heads a little on the diagnosis, nice to have another opinion though and could be a combination of the two factors. Trace elements? What are we talking here? Could this be the cause of the yellowing leaves also? I take it these are not found in the universal all purpose fertiliser (little blue balls)that I am using, and I can't get the fish emulsion or seaweed extract, so what do I look for? Some sort of compost? Should I cut the dead bit off just above where it changes colour? Cheers (Tried to reply last night but the site wouldn't let me post the reply) __________________ Meddle not in the affairs of dragons - for you are crunchy and taste of chicken! Builder in Central Portugal

20th May 2007, 01:49 PM	#8 (permalink)
Ekka Eric Frei Administrator - Brisbane L5 (Dip) Hort Cert III Arb + some Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Brisbane Posts: 6,943	This is my web page on fertilizing. http://www.weareallabouttrees.com.au/fertilizing.html Talks about trace elements. Mineral deficiencies or even too much of a mineral can affect the tree. Yellowing, perhaps not enough iron etc. Chances of deficiencies in a sandy soil is higher so regular supply of trace elements should help. Compost is good, I suggested spent mushroom compost, any mushroom farms around? __________________ Remember to use the "search" function, if you have answers/questions post them so everyone can benefit. Free Tree and Green Industry Link Directory Qualified Brisbane Tree Lopping \| Stump Grinding and Stump Removal Brisbane Brisbane Tree Care, Consultations, Developer, Tree and Arborist Reports Forum Sponsors

20th May 2007, 01:54 PM	#9 (permalink)
Sean Freeman PDF King & Arborist Extrodinaire Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Townsville Nth Queensland & Gold Coast Sth Queensland Posts: 1,671	I can only call it as I see it, and the pattern of leaf yellowing looks more like Iron chlorosis to me, but it could also be a Zinc deficiency, there are subtle differences in they ways these and other mineral deficiencies manifest themselves, many are common to sandy soils. What I would do is get yourself on of those cheap simple soil pH test kits and get some idea of the pH of your soil. The ideal pH for peach trees in commercial orchards is between 6 and 7. Applying Chelated iron in the watering can is very effective when your soils are acidic (low pH) I've attached a file from Victoria in Oz relating to some of the basic symptoms of mineral deficiencies in fruit trees, the basic rules apply to your trees as well as Aussie trees re foliage markers...having said all this it is possible that some fungal pathogen is at work. I wouldn't remove any branches just yet, unless you are 100% certain they are dead, if you do remove them don't keep them in your garden/compost just in case fungi are present. AG0089.pdf __________________ Sean Trees are poems that earth writes upon the sky, We fell them down and turn them into paper, That we may record our emptiness. - Kahlil Gibran

20th May 2007, 03:17 PM	#10 (permalink)
clementine Mature tree Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Central Portugal Posts: 288	Many thanks Both A bit to think on and some testing to be done. The dead section on top did develope a couple of leaves but they dropped off a few weeks ago and no sign of anymore. No mushy farms Eric, here it's hectare after hectare of apple mainly, lots of grapevines, some peach, some orange and a few lemons. Thousands of hectares of pine forest and many eucalyptus trees too, some cork, oak etc. The oranges seemed to ripen midwinter (january, february) but nobody was picking them. I saw some mushed up the other day on their way in the back of a 4x4 to feed cattle with, well, I was lucky he never hit me as at the time I was mountain biking back up his tiny farmtrack and almost ended up in the brambles. Probably shouldn't have been there so said "bom dia" and went. Many beers __________________ Meddle not in the affairs of dragons - for you are crunchy and taste of chicken! Builder in Central Portugal

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