Shotgun disease


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General

Due to the many holes in the leaves, pest infestation is often suspected, but in many cases the causative agent is a fungus called Wilsonomyces carpophilus. The plant disease caused by the fungus is also called shotgun disease (Stigmina carpophila) because the leaves of the plants look like shotgun pellets. The pathogen is one of the true ascomycetes (Pezizomycotina) and can attack all stone fruit types. The fungus also uses other Prunus species such as the cherry laurel (Prunus laurocerasus) as host plants. The shotgun disease is particularly severe after a wet spring.

Way of life of Wilsonomyces carpophilus

The causative agent of shotgun disease is known to date only as an asexual form. This means that he only reproduces asexually. For this purpose, the fungus hibernates on the bark of the affected trees, infested shoots and fruit mummies with a so-called shoot mycelium. Against dehydration and low temperatures of the fungus has very resistant conidia - these are the propagating organs of fungi.

Wilsonomyces carpophilus prefers a damp and rainy weather in spring. Then he feels particularly well and multiplies almost explosively or in turns. Due to its preference low-precipitation regions are less affected by an infection with the shotgun disease. In contrast, areas with frequent fog are especially at risk because the conidia of the fungus are spread by raindrops.

The lowest leaves of the woody plants and those in the interior of the crown are more frequently attacked, since the spores of the fungi can not be washed off by the rain here. As a result, trees infected with the shotgun disease gradually start to mutilate from the inside.
The older leaves are only rarely infected at the beginning of June, as the plant has already developed a certain resistance to disease at this time. In addition, the temperatures in the summer for the fungus no longer optimal growth conditions. At this time - until autumn - more young shoots get infected. The fungus penetrates mainly via the attachment points of the fallen foliage.

Immediately after the leaf waste - in wet weather conditions - late infections are possible. Then the preferred entry ports of the fungus are the not yet corked leaf loci, which are in close proximity to the next year's buds. From there, the fungus penetrates into the shoots of the plants, destroying the buds and the bark tissue.

Damage to plants

Infestation with the shotgun disease can be seen primarily at brightened points on young leaves. After only a few days, the affected areas turn reddish brown. As a natural countermeasure, the plant tries to encapsulate the affected parts of the plant and thus to exclude the fungus. As a result, after about two weeks, a break-out of the necrotic tissue within the patches can be seen. This leaves back one to ten millimeters large, red-edged holes in the sheet. Especially with a stronger infestation then affects the foliage as perforated by a shotgun.

Damage to the cherry laurel

First signs of infestation with shotgun disease in cherry laurel

On the fruits of the diseased plants it comes to black, sunken points or spots with a likewise red border. The fruits begin to rupture quickly, dry up and are then repelled by the plant. Sometimes the putrefaction process begins even before falling off.

Equally affected by the shotgun disease may be the shoots of woody plants. Especially in the peach you quickly recognize the symptoms: On the shoots arise brown, red-rimmed spots of round to oblong shape. In some cases, it comes to sunken branches, often with protruding rubber drops. Thinner shoots die very likely very quickly, while thicker shoots activate defense reactions, which can lead to cancerous tissue growths.
A massive occurrence of shotgun disease leads to premature leaf debris. So it may happen that affected trees start to become bald in summer. In the professional fruit growing can be caused by the shotgun disease to considerable crop failures.

Frequently affected plants

The fungus mainly attacks stone fruit, especially plums, plums and cherries. But also mirabelle, peach, cherry laurel, cherry and almond can be affected. The susceptibility of each plant depends on the variety. Low susceptible cherry varieties include 'Abel's late', 'Hausmüller's medium thickness' and 'Büttner's red cartilage'.

Shotgun disease on Prunus

Stone fruit types are particularly often infected

Preventive measures

So that the dreaded fungus does not occur on your plants, you can already do a lot in advance. Regular checks, for example, help to detect the symptoms of the disease at an early stage. To prevent infestation with the shotgun disease, you should pay attention to the purchase of new plants on strong and healthy specimens. Preference should be given to disease-resistant varieties.
Sensitive varieties should have a location in your garden that is well protected against constant rain so that excessive moisture in the trees is avoided.

The use of net sulfur or a self-made horsetail manure also helps as a preventive measure. In addition, you can treat your fruit trees from deciduous waste with suitable copper preparations to prevent a late infection on the shoots.

Another preventive measure is the regular mulching of the fruit trees with a thick layer of, for example, grass clippings. The planting of ferns, garlic and onions in the immediate vicinity of susceptible trees and plants also reduces the infestation with shotgun disease.
In dry periods, only spray your plants from the ground to avoid wetting the leaves with water. Otherwise, one would create optimal living conditions for the fungus.
A balanced organic fertilization of the fruit trees not only ensures optimal nutrient supply, but also increases the resilience of your trees. Therefore, well-supplied plants are less frequently attacked by a fungus. In the case of cherry laurel, care must be taken not to apply nitrogen-based fertilizer.

Combat shotgun disease

As soon as you notice an infection with the shotgun disease on your plants, you should act immediately. Because it is important to start early with control measures to prevent further spread.
The first step should be the removal of infested plant material. To do this, generously cut back affected leaves and fruits with a sharp and disinfected pair of scissors. Collect affected plant material from the ground and dispose of it in organic waste. Attention: The compost is not suitable for disposal, otherwise the danger of a renewed spread of the fungus due to wind and rain is very high.
Also remove the affected shoots and cut them back into the healthy wood. Cutting back the trees also leads to faster drying of the crown after rainfall.
Alumina and copper preparations as well as net sulfur help to control the shotgun disease biologically. Perform these treatments in the months of March through August. Only if the biological control measures are not sufficient, you should use an approved fungicide if it occurs frequently in the spring. A suitable preparation for this purpose is, for example, Celaflor Mushroom-free Ectivo, which you can buy from the garden shop or the Internet. From March and April it is applied to the sick plants; however, it can also be used preventively.

Shotgun disease

FAQ - 💬

❓ Does shot hole disease go away?

👉 It may take a few growing cycles to ensure that the tree is free of shot-hole fungus. It is also important to note that while you can remove the disease from the tree, your specific tree may need extra nutrients to recover fully.

❓ What does shot hole disease look like?

👉 Identification. Shot hole first appears in the spring as purplish or reddish spots about 1/10 inch in diameter on new buds, leaves, and shoots. Spots on young leaves commonly have a narrow, light green or yellow margin. The spots expand and their centers turn brown and can drop out, leaving holes.Cached

❓ What can I use for shot hole disease?

👉 If any are present, treat with a product, such as pyraclostrobin/boscalid, chlorothalonil, or azoxystrobin, that is used for both brown rot and shot hole control.

❓ How do you treat coryneum blight?

👉 Thorough pruning during the dormant season is very effective and recommended for the homeowner as a major component of management to control this disease. In the spring at shuck fall, fungicides such as Abound, Pristine, Gem, Echo 720, Bravo Weather Stik, and Ziram, are effective.

❓ What is the shothole on my chokecherry?

👉 The holes in the leaves are caused by the leaf spots drying up and falling out. It kind of looks like someone shot the plant with a shotgun. The good news is that this disease is not harmful to plants. So, there is no need to expose yourself to fungicides.

❓ How do you treat leaf spot fungi and bacterial shothole?

👉 Spray with a fungicide, repeating as recommended to treat fungal leaf spot disease on laurels and other ornamental members of the Prunus family. There are no chemicals approved for control of diseases on edible plants. If the shot hole is caused by bacterial canker, treatment with a fungicide is ineffective.

❓ What causes shot hole disease?

👉 Shot hole disease, or coryneum blight, is caused by the fungus Wilsonomyces carpophilus. It is most commonly found on Prunus spp. hosts including almonds, Catalina and Japanese flowering cherries, English laurel, ornamental plums, nectarines, peaches, and especially apricot trees. Affects fruits, buds, and stems, but is most obvious on the leaves.

❓ What is Cherry shot hole disease?

👉 Cherry shot hole symptoms. Photo: Bruce Watt, University of Maine, Bugwood.org Cherry shot-hole disease is a "catch-all" phrase referring to the symptom of tiny round holes (about ⅛” in diameter) in leaves of cherry trees and cherry laurel shrubs (Prunus spp.).

❓ What causes shot hole disease on peach trees?

👉 The pathogen that causes shot hole disease is Wilsonomyces carpophilus. Peach tree leaves displaying various stages of the shot hole disease: brown spots on the leaf with conidium holders in the middle (center) that eventually fall off, leaving BB-sized holes behind (left)

❓ What happens if you don't treat shot hole disease?

👉 If you fail to treat shot hole disease, the disease can quickly take over your tree. It can affect existing leaves, budding leaves, and twigs and branches. If your plant produces fruit, the amount of viable fruit that can be produced will drastically decrease.

Video Board: Shotgun Syndrome - Disease (Official Music Video).

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