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| Blossom Wilt |
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A fungal disease that attacks stone fruit trees, and fruit with cores by destroying the blossom, e.g. apples and pears.
The disease is climate dependent and the severity can vary due to this, i.e. the spores are spread in humid conditions by wind, rain and insects
The symptoms are the wilting and shrivelling of blossom and associated leaves on fruiting spurs, i.e. restricted to flowering spurs.
The buff coloured pustules may be visible on the leaves under damp conditions
It can overwinter in mummified fruit and small bark cankers formed where rotted fruit has been left on the tree.
Fungicides are no longer available to the amateur gardener, copper fungicide or Bordeaux mixture may give some control.
Otherwise, prompt pruning out of infections, and the destroying of rotten fruit is the only form of treatment available.
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