Among the peach tree diseases most feared by farmers, the peach blister certainly represents one of the best known: caused by a fungal pathogen, it is recognizable by a series of rather typical symptoms that-as we shall see-contribute to making it easily detectable, but difficult to treat with certain effectiveness.
The symptoms and evolution of the peach blister
The symptoms of peach blister blight begin as early as shortly after budding: the leaves tend to wrinkle, thicken and, thus, deform. By the time the farmer becomes aware of these signs, unfortunately, the fungus is already in action, having penetrated the leaf and begun its destructive action against the plant.
Then, at a later stage, the leaves begin to take on a reddish, light green, or whitish coloration. Then, they evolve into a darker coloration, with a transformation that slightly anticipates the final death of this part of the plant, with the detachment and fall of the leaves.
What happens as a result of this condition is quickly said: not only is the aesthetic appearance of the plant compromised, but the very life of the tree is placed at serious risk, given that it will no longer be able to take advantage of the presence of the leaves that feed the fruit by capturing solar energy. The harvest will therefore be more modest or, at worst, absent.
Peach blister is, moreover, a pathological condition that can affect the sustainability of the plant for a long time. Indeed, the tree becomes much less hardy and, therefore, bud formation for the following year may be laborious.
Although the fungus rarely ends up infesting the fruit, if the tree is affected by the action of this disease for a long time, it is possible that it will end up decaying and dying.
Remedies for peach blister.
Now that we have learned to recognize the symptoms of peach blister, we can take a small step further and ask ourselves what remedies are most effective for this condition.
The farmer’s first task in the face of this peach tree disease is certainly to compensate for defoliation, which, as we have seen, is the most immediate symptom of fungal action.
To succeed in this goal, it is advisable to proceed with fertilization with the help of a suitable fertilizer. Immediate collection of fallen leaves is also suggested, thus reducing the potential for infection. Branches affected by the fungus should also be removed and destroyed in order to contain the spread of the pathogen on the tree.
Next, regarding the timing of the first phytosanitary treatments, it is advisable to intervene even before budding, at the time when the buds begin to swell. The timing will depend mainly on the growing area and weather conditions, but it is generally advisable to intervene as early as the end of the year, in December.
In any case, it is advisable to give peach trees a total of three treatments.
The first is to repeat the application in rainy periods with average daily temperatures above 8 degrees, 10 days apart. The second approach, in dry weather and with temperatures below 8 degrees, waiting longer before repeating the treatment. The third and final approach, after the buds have blossomed, as soon as the green tips of the leaflets are visible, again before flowering.
Copper-based products and specific peach tree fungicides should then be used during treatments.
In fact, copper is a widely accepted fungicide even in organic farming due to its low toxicity and intensity of action, which also depends, of course, on the type of compound contained, which can be in the form of copper hydroxide, chloride, oxide or sulfate, combined with calcium hydroxide in products known as Bordeaux mixture.
Copper products have a rather broad spectrum and side action against other peach tree fungal diseases. In fact, copper can be particularly useful against coryneus, which can result in leaf balling and cause spotting on the fruit, and again against Cytospora Necria and Phomopsis, which cause branch canker, and further against Xanthomonas arboricola pruni and Pseudomonas, which can result in dieback and decay in peach tree plants.
In any case, whatever treatment you choose, it is always advisable to carefully follow the label directions regarding dosages and how to use them.
In addition to this, it is always advisable to accompany the application of treatment with winter pruning, which will be instrumental in aerating the canopy and reducing moisture inside the tree, a risk factor that can promote infection.
Finally, if you notice that symptomatic leaves are in a limited number on the foliage of the plant, it is a good rule of thumb to pick them up and remove them before they disperse new infectious propagules. Finally, a nod is attributable to fertilization, which can have an indirect effect on the intensity with which the disease manifests itself.
In particular, excess nitrogen can favor the pathogen as tissues become enriched with water, slowing lignification. Potassium and phosphorus, on the other hand, harden leaves, making plants less susceptible to infection and the deforming action typical of peach blister blight.
Peach tree diseases: how to prevent them with technology
Fortunately, there are a number of innovations that can help prevent blister and other peach diseases by using technologies that can predict crop quality and maximize crop yields.
One of these is our Plantvoice ecosystem, a device that enables sap analysis in real time, providing specific and timely suggestions to farmers on the use of resources such as water, fertilizer and pesticides, and thus helping to improve plant health.
The mechanism of Plantvoice is particularly advanced and safe. In fact, the system includes a minimally invasive phytocompatible device that is inserted into the stem of the plant and allows it to monitor salinity and sap flows, making what we call to be a kind of plant electrocardiogram.
In turn, the device is able to transmit the collected data to artificial intelligence-based software, which processes it in the cloud using advanced algorithms, detecting not only signs of water stress before they become critical, but also recognizing attacks by fungi, bacteria and other pathogens early, thus reducing the risk of outbreaks. Plantvoice also makes it possible to analyze plant response to agronomic treatments, thereby improving phytosanitary management.
How Plantvoice works
By now it should be clear at this point in our guide to peach tree diseases how Plantvoice works. For anyone who would like to learn more, we list below the 5 steps that will allow you to gain complete control over your plants:
- scan the QR code with their cell phone to get the data in the Plantvoice app;
- insertion of the sensor into the sentinel plant, to then activate it from the app and create its own planting;
- dashboard control to view and manage their plantations;
- via the app, check the planting or receive notifications about the health status and needs of their plants;
- Sending from the probe to the app a real-time analysis of the sap. This will make it possible to monitor the well-being of plants and make appropriate decisions about their care.
Other peach tree diseases
Although peach blister is the most common disease of this plant, it is useful here to share how this fungal disease is certainly not the only one that – unfortunately – can affect our crops.
Let us try to summarize, briefly, the other major diseases, their symptoms, and their more specific treatments.
Monilia
We begin with monilia, another fungal disease, determined by the fungus Monilinia spp. Its occurrence is usually signaled by the presence of brown spots on the fruits, which then tend to mummify and fall off. Later, the branches are affected by cankers that result in serious damage to the survival of the entire tree.
Treatment of this disease usually involves action by copper- or sulfur-based fungicides. Infected parts should be cut off and removed in order to prevent the spread of the disease to healthy parts.
Peach tree rust
Another fungal disease that can affect peach trees is rust, caused by the fungus Tranzschelia discolor. Its occurrence is manifested by the presence of orange or brown pustules on the surface of the leaves. Again, the most effective treatment tends to be with specific fungicides.
Powdery mildew
While not typical only of peach trees,powdery mild ew is one of the fungal diseases that can affect this plant. Caused by the fungus
Other diseases
Unfortunately, the list of diseases that can affect peach trees is not finished here. We can, for example, mention the action of bacterial diseases such as those caused by Xanthomonas arboricola pv. Pruni, which causes brown spots on leaves and fruit, or even cladosporiosis, with its dark spots that directly affect the fruit, and of course the fruit fly, which causes rot in the fruit and premature fall.
As we have mentioned in the past few lines, each of these conditions requires specific action from the farmer, as there are no remedies that can apply to all the scenarios outlined above.
However, there are some additional considerations that we would like to mention in the final parts of our guide that we believe may be useful in order to approach the care of one’s plants against the main peach tree diseases with due awareness.
First, we share how prevention is a key step: preventive treatments in the fall and spring are certainly a good viaticum to ensure healthier crops. In addition, introducing more resistant varieties within one’s crops can certainly reduce the risk of infection. Let us also remember how proper pruning helps to improve ventilation and reduce humidity, thus limiting the development of some diseases.
Finally, in case of serious diseases, it is advisable to seek the services of an agrotechnician or other expert who can carry out timely monitoring of the health status of your crop.
Speaking of prevention, we can only remind you once again how important it is to resort to technology such as that introduced by our unique Plantvoice ecosystem: a practical and discreet way to intercept any signs of abnormalities in one’s plants in a timely manner. Book a demo by clicking here!
