What Is a fantastic Plum Tree Fungicide?

Fungicides help control and prevent fungus in plum. Most plum tree fungi begin in the main crown or system of the tree, but some cause ripe fruit to rot prematurely. Frequency, timing and suitable application are essential to a successful fungus control or prevention program. Some of the best varieties of plum trees for your home garden comprise the Japanese plum tree and European plum trees because they bloom later than other kinds and therefore prevent damaging spring frosts.

Phytophthora Root and Crown Rot

Phytophthora root and crown rot spread quickly and can destroy a plum tree in one season. Permitting the main system of a plum tree to soak in standing water for 24 hours or more considerably raises the risk of these fungal diseases. Several fungicides can control phytophthora rot and crown rot. Effective fungicides include fosetyl-althat can be applied to the leaves each 60 days, and mefenoxam, which is applied in the early spring and fall. However, the best thing to do is avoid these respiratory disorders by not overwatering and deciding upon a site with well-drained soil.

Oak Root Fungus

Eradicating oak root fungus (Armillaria mellea), also called armillaria root rot, is rarely achieved. To attempt eradication, fumigate the soil with fungicides and eliminate the apparently healthy trees adjacent to the contaminated ones. Soil fumigant fungicides are are most likely to be effective in loamy soil, 5 feet deep or less. You could also try using sodium tetrathiocarbonate to eliminate oak root fungus, if the contaminated tree was planted for at least one year. If you know that the soil is infected with oak root fungus, then the best thing to do is plant plum trees (Prunus cerasifera) resistant to oak root fungus, like the varieties Myrobalan and Mariana.

Ripe Root Rot

You can prevent ripe root decay, mainly caused by the fungi Monilinia fructicola and Rhizopus stolonifer, with pre-harvest spraying of fungicides on uninjured fruit. For Monilinia, apply fungicides as early as four weeks prior to harvest the plums. For Rhizopus, apply fungicides you to 10 days before harvest. Powerful pre-harvest fungicides for both Monilinia and Rhizopus on plum trees comprise propiconazole, pyrimethanil, cyprodinil, pyraclorstrobin and myclobutanil.

Brown Rot Blossom and Twig Blight

Monilinia laxa and M. fructicola are the fungi that cause brown rot blossom and twig blight. If the plum trees you have are vulnerable to these diseases, you can prevent infection by making a delayed blossom application of fungicide. This means applying the fungicide when 20 to 40 percent of those flowers on the tree are in blossom. Powerful fungicides for brown rot blossom and twig blight comprise propiconazole, iprodione and thiophanate methyl, as well as acyprodinil, myclobutanil and pyrimethanil.

See related