{"id":1726,"date":"2019-06-04T20:04:39","date_gmt":"2019-06-04T20:04:39","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.oregonstate.edu\/mgmetro\/?p=1726"},"modified":"2019-06-04T20:18:28","modified_gmt":"2019-06-04T20:18:28","slug":"brown-rot-vs-bacterial-blight-canker","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.oregonstate.edu\/mgmetro\/2019\/06\/04\/brown-rot-vs-bacterial-blight-canker\/","title":{"rendered":"Brown Rot vs Bacterial Blight\/Canker"},"content":{"rendered":"

Natter\u2019s Notes<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Brown Rot vs Bacterial Blight\/Canker
\n<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Jean R. Natter, OSU Master Gardener<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n \"\"<\/a>\n
Fig 1:
To verify a diagnosis of bacterial blight\/canker, expose the cambium adjacent to, and below, the ooze. (Image: PNW Disease Handbook)<\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n

Two problems common to many fruiting and ornamental Prunus<\/em> species are bacterial flower blight which often progresses into bacterial canker, and brown rot blossom blight and fruit rot.<\/p>\n

Both diseases begin with very similar signs and symptoms. Flowers brown earlier than normal and collapse; the infection sometimes continues onto the attached twigs, where the affected leaves dry and cling to the branch; then, too, gumming or ooze may appear. Both diseases may kill branches, eventually the tree.<\/p>\n

So, if you\u2019ve been stumped now and then as to the correct diagnosis\u2014brown rot versus bacterial blight \u2013 be heartened by the words of Jay Pscheidt, co-author of the PNW Disease Management Handbook: \u201cSymptoms of the two will initially look the same. The big difference will be the development of signs \u2013 brown rot spores that give it that dull sort of gray coloration. So, if it has spores, it is for sure brown rot but, if they do not develop, we can\u2019t really say for sure which it might be.\u201d (Ed. comment: Ugh.)<\/p>\n

A diagnostic option <\/strong><\/p>\n

As you know, MGs begin by obtaining a thorough history from clients. Another critical part of a successful inquiry is to examine suitable samples or images of much more than just one leaf.<\/p>\n

Professional plant detectives visit sites where the troubled plants live; MGs don\u2019t. Determining an accurate diagnosis is difficult, sometimes impossible while confined to an office.<\/p>\n

But we must make every effort to resolve the issue before hand. One option is to pass the inquiry to the next shift or two via a Referral Form, another is to contact another of the metro MG offices during our shift.<\/p>\n

Although MGs seldom submit affected tissues to the OSU Plant Clinic for diagnosis, we can do so. Insect ID is free; disease ID typically requires a fee. But, before submitting any sample from your MG Office, consult with one of the following persons: for Clackamas County: Jane Collier; for Multnomah and Washington Counties: Jean Natter.<\/p>\n

Factors in both diseases<\/strong><\/p>\n

– Cold wet weather for Bacterial Blight; warm moist weather for Brown Rot. (This spring was perfect for brown rot.)<\/p>\n

– Stressed trees are more susceptible.<\/p>\n

– Some cultivars have tolerance while others are very susceptible<\/p>\n

\n \"\"<\/a>\n
Fig 2:
A verification of brown rot may have to wait until signs of fungal sporulation appear on affected tissues, among them fruits. (Image: Jean R. Natter)<\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n

Cultural management of brown rot<\/strong><\/p>\n

– Remove and destroy infected twigs and branches in summer.<\/p>\n

– Remove and destroy all affected fruit all dropped fruits as well as mummies that cling to the tree; don\u2019t compost.<\/p>\n

– Avoid wounding fruit at harvest and cool it immediately.<\/p>\n

Chemical management of brown rot<\/strong><\/p>\n

– Apply fungicide during bloom; PNW Disease Handbook lists possible home gardener products.<\/p>\n

– Realize that a product suited for application to ornamental flowering trees may be prohibited for fruiting trees.<\/p>\n

Cultural management of bacterial flower blight<\/strong><\/p>\n

– Prune out affected tissues during dry weather; avoid the rainy months when bacteria may easily enter healthy tissues via leaf scars, the site of a mechanical injury, and\/or pruning wounds.<\/p>\n

– Disinfect pruners between trees with a 30-minute soak in 70% alcohol or in 10 percent bleach (9 parts water with one part of bleach)<\/p>\n

– Consider replacing severely affected tree(s) with a tolerant kind. \u201cPrunus<\/em> sargentii<\/em> ‘Rancho’ and P.<\/em> yedoenis<\/em> ‘Akebono’ appear to have some resistance. ‘Kwanzan’ cherries appear to be resistant when mature but not when young.\u201d (https:\/\/pnwhandbooks.org\/plantdisease\/host-disease\/cherry-flowering-prunus-spp-bacterial-canker<\/a>)<\/p>\n

Chemical management of bacterial flower blight<\/strong><\/p>\n

– No chemicals are listed for use by home gardeners.<\/p>\n

– Client could hire a Certified Arborist to spray. It\u2019s helpful to request on-site evaluations from 3 or more Certified Arborists. (Use zip code to search for nearby Certified Arborists at www.treesaregood.org<\/a>.)<\/p>\n

– Use of copper is discouraged because of bacterial resistance problems, also that it may increase disease intensity.<\/p>\n

Resources <\/strong><\/p>\n

Bacterial Flower Blight and Canker:<\/p>\n

— PNW Disease Handbook: https:\/\/pnwhandbooks.org\/plantdisease\/host-disease\/cherry-prunus-spp-bacterial-canker<\/a><\/p>\n

— Bacterial canker – http:\/\/ipm.ucanr.edu\/PMG\/r105101511.html<\/a><\/p>\n

Brown Rot Blossom Blight and Fruit Rot:<\/strong><\/p>\n

— PNW Disease Handbook: https:\/\/pnwhandbooks.org\/plantdisease\/host-disease\/cherry-prunus-spp-brown-rot-blossom-blight-fruit-rot<\/a><\/p>\n

— \u00a0Brown rot \u2013 http:\/\/ipm.ucanr.edu\/PMG\/GARDEN\/FRUIT\/DISEASE\/aprbrownrot.html<\/a><\/p>\n

PDF Version Brown Rot vs Bacterial Blight<\/strong><\/a><\/h3>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Natter\u2019s Notes Brown Rot vs Bacterial Blight\/Canker Jean R. Natter, OSU Master Gardener Two problems common to many fruiting and ornamental Prunus species are bacterial flower blight which often progresses into bacterial canker, and brown rot blossom blight and fruit rot. Both diseases begin with very similar signs and symptoms. Flowers brown earlier than normal… Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8248,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1179565],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1726","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-natters-notes"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.oregonstate.edu\/mgmetro\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1726","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.oregonstate.edu\/mgmetro\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.oregonstate.edu\/mgmetro\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.oregonstate.edu\/mgmetro\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8248"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.oregonstate.edu\/mgmetro\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1726"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.oregonstate.edu\/mgmetro\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1726\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1733,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.oregonstate.edu\/mgmetro\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1726\/revisions\/1733"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.oregonstate.edu\/mgmetro\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1726"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.oregonstate.edu\/mgmetro\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1726"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.oregonstate.edu\/mgmetro\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1726"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}