OT: Help diagnose disease for this Asian Pear

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toisanwu

Registered:1439303885
Posts: 64

Posted 1477926866 · Edited	Reply with quote #1

I am seeking assistance in diagnosis of an issue with a relative's Asian pear tree. I know there are very knowledgeable folks here when it comes to fruit trees. The tree in question is located in Windsor, Ontario (right next to Detroit, MI) and have had fruited for several years until recently. It had never been treated/sprayed. Earlier this year, soon after the blossom, the owner noticed that the leaves started drying up and falling off. The small fruits also started drying up but hanging on to the tree branches. I have enclosed some photos (please see link before) that were retaken recently. He has asked me to find out what the issue is and the solution is (if the tree is still alive). Thanks advance for the help. I don't live in the same city but I could get more info if required. https://flic.kr/s/aHskMMFXYK __________________ Bill Ottawa, Canada, Zone 5 (USDA Zone 4)

Dave

Registered:1312388324
Posts: 1,482

Posted 1477930165	Reply with quote #2

http://ipm.ucanr.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn7414.html __________________ Connecticut - Zone 6B Wish List - Bordissot negra rimada

toisanwu

Registered:1439303885
Posts: 64

Posted 1477957402	Reply with quote #3

Quote: Originally Posted by Dave http://ipm.ucanr.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn7414.html Thanks for the link, Dave. The symptoms described on this site are very similar to the photos. Quote: Originally Posted by alanmercieca Like Dave has told you it's fire blight, I know very little about that part of Canada yet I know in New England USA blight diseases are common. Blight diseases are actually very common throughout much of the continental USA. I am guessing that it's new to that area of Canada. Our only pear tree is heavily blight resistant. That is why I got it. Where I live fire blight is very common. Alan, we are in Ontario whose climate I would say is quite similar to that of New England's (for example, Ottawa is only one hour drive from New York state). Fire blight is a problem for apples and pears here as well, except I am very new to this so it's hard for me to identify it. This particular pear tree was grown from a seed of a Fragrant Pear (http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/15/dining/15fruit.html) many years ago. The owner was initially growing it in a pot just for fun and then later on planted it outside in his backyard. Two years after planting it outdoors, it started flowering and fruiting. He has not done any maintenance on the tree at all, including pruning. And obviously he has no knowledge of various different diseases associated with pear trees here. __________________ Bill Ottawa, Canada, Zone 5 (USDA Zone 4)

pino

Registered:1383190021
Posts: 2,117

Posted 1478013154	Reply with quote #4

Fire blight has been on the increase last 2 years in Niagara. My Bartlet and Bosc pears that have never showed symptoms before had several branches hit by blight last year. I cut the branches off and burnt them and I didn't see any recurrence this year. For mild cases you can cut off the infected areas and it helps a lot. Best solution is getting fire blight resistant cultivars. __________________ Pino, zone 6, Niagara, JCJ Acres Wish; Peace on earth and more figs Italian 258, Galicia Negra, Luv, trade suggestions welcome.

AltaFarm

Registered:1461731453
Posts: 19

Posted 1478013804 · Edited	Reply with quote #5

How long ago did they add the landscaping stones and mulch around the tree, did it decline a year or two after? They look more recent than the rest of the cement blocks. Raising the grade that much on most trees will kill them. A tree that size should not look like a telephone pole coming out of the ground. Some of the flair should be exposed. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/06/07/AR2006060700521.html

jrdewhirst

Registered:1420324567
Posts: 91

Posted 1478016341	Reply with quote #6

<< Best solution is getting fire blight resistant cultivars. > That was my conclusion, as well. I'll let commercial growers deal with susceptible cultivars. I want no more than 2-3 pear trees, so I planted the European variety Harrow Sweet last spring; and I just ordered another European variety Warren for next spring. But I couldn't find any Asian variety that seemed highly resistant. Does anybody have any suggestions? FWIW, I did the same with apples (Liberty, Enterprise). I figure that if one tree gets sick, the odds of an infection of the others skyrockets. So the entire community needs to be resistant. __________________ Joe D

toisanwu

Registered:1439303885
Posts: 64

Posted 1478024290	Reply with quote #7

Thanks guys for the great info. It does seem that Southern Ontario (where Windsor is located) have seen increasing fire blights infecting fruit trees in recent years (http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/crops/facts/fireblight.htm). I would simply select a fire flight resistant cultivar if I am to plant a new tree. Special thank to AltaFarm for the linked article. I have learnt something new today. I also mulch my small young trees around the bases with cedar chips. I'll get the owner to remove those heavy mulch around that pear tree (if it's alive). __________________ Bill Ottawa, Canada, Zone 5 (USDA Zone 4)

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