Frank A. Hale, Ph.D. Professor Entomology and Plant Pathology and David L. Cook Extension Agent II, Davidson County

Frank A. Hale, Ph.D. Professor Entomology and Plant Pathology and David L. Cook Extension Agent II, Davidson County

Multipurpose Fruit Spray These are mixtures containing a fungicide (captan) and either one (malathion) or two (malathion and carbaryl) insecticides Multipurpose spays are convenient and are effective against some, but not all pests and diseases Mixtures containing carbaryl should not be applied to apple or pear until 21 days after petal fall, as it causes the fruit to drop

Apple and Pear

Thin all tree fruits so that the mature fruits will not touch each other This spacing provides better coverage of fruit surfaces by the sprays

Courtesy of the Jentsch Lab, Cornell University

Sanitation and Cultural Practices In the Southeast, pest and disease pressure is high and a spray program is needed Proper sanitation and cultural practices will improve the chances of success Prune trees according to recommendations to allow better air circulation and sunlight penetration

Pruning Dormant Trees Dr. David Lockwood demonstrates proper pruning on apple Helps control disease by promoting rapid drying after rains and dew Prune out weak or dead wood, taking care to remove any cankered shoots Penetration of sprays into the canopy is also better if the trees are wellpruned

Sanitation (Brown Rot) Fruit mummies are the most significant source of overwintering brown rot spores. Remove fruit mummies left hanging in the tree or on the ground

What is Brown Rot? Brown rot is the most destructive disease of peach trees in TN Brown rot can cause complete crop loss in unsprayed fruit trees Brown rot was recognized in the United States as early as 1807, but was not determined to be caused by a fungus until 1855

Brown Rot Brown rot results in 4 types of fruit infections: 1.) Infection of aborted, non-abscised fruit (buttons) 2.) Infection of late-thinned fruit on ground (green fruit) 3.) Infection of mature fruit during harvest 4.) Infection of fruit after harvest

Fruit Injury and Brown Rot Injuries to the fruit can increase brown rot problems Examples: Hail, frost cracks, bird feeding, and insect damage Breaks in the fruit skin make it easier for the fungus to enter and begin the rot process

Injuries to the Fruit from Brown Rot

Favorable Conditions for Brown Rot Wet, warm weather aids dispersal and germination of the fungal spores The spores come mainly from mummified fruit from the previous year and the spores are carried to fruit by wind, rain, and certain insects

Host Plant Resistance Avoid planting peach varieties that are highly susceptible to bacterial leaf spot since chemical control of this disease is very limited Highly susceptible varieties to avoid include Elberta, Halehaven, Rio-Oso-Gem and Sunlight

Delayed dormant (when buds swell) Image courtesy of Clemson University Apply a superior oil spray for white peach scale, San Jose scale, and European red mite eggs If scale have been a serious problem, apply to superior oil sprays, one while fully dormant and the second as a delayed dormant application

Superior oil sprays during the dormant or delayed dormant period can help prevent European red mite feeding damage

White Peach Scale and San Jose Scale These scale have become serious pests of stone fruit throughout the southeast Scale overwinter on the tree and can kill scaffold limbs and trees San Jose Scale

White peach scale

San Jose Scale on Apples On apples, dormant and delayed dormant oil sprays will aid in control of San Jose scale First generation crawlers of San Jose scale are active from petal fall to third cover and they can move to fruit

San Jose scale settled crawlers on peach

San Jose scale settled crawlers on white peach

Courtesy of the Jentsch Lab, Cornell University

Peach, Plum & Cherry Spray Program Bloom Petal Fall Shuck split Delayed dormant: When buds swell (superior oil). For aphids, scales and mites Bloom: Most of the flowers on the tree are open (Captan fungicide not needed if good sanitation is practiced to control brown rot) Petal Fall: Flower petals readily fall from the tree (Captan or sulfur or chlorothalonil plus malathion). Insecticides for plum curculio, oriental fruit moth, plant bugs, and stink bugs Shuck Split: Growth of the fruit has split the flower shuck (Captan or sulfur or chlotothalonil plus malathion). For same pests as with petal fall

Peach, Plum & Cherry Spray Program Plum curculio damage to fruit Cover Sprays: Apply at 10- to 14-day intervals (Captan or sulfur plus malathion). Early cover sprays are key for oriental fruit moth control Plum curculio larva in a sour cherry Plum curculio larva in a peach

Peachtree borer moth Peach, Plum & Cherry Spray Program Trunk and main scaffold sprays: For peachtree borer and lesser peachtree borer control, direct esfenvalerate or gamma-cyhalothrin spray to the bark on May 31, June 30, July 15 (but not within 14 days of harvest) A final trunk and main scaffold spray can be applied to the bark after harvest Peachtree borer damage to cherry trunk

Peachtree Borer and Lesser Peachtree Borer Peachtree Borer Larva Lesser Peachtree Borer Moth

Peach, Plum & Cherry Spray Program Preharvest sprays: 2-3 weeks before harvest and within 1 week of harvest (Captan plus either thiophanate-methyl, Immunox, or propiconazole) Critical sprays for brown rot control Early dormant: Late fall, after leaf drop (Copper or chlorothalonil or limesulfur) Needed on peach for leaf curl and on plum if plum pockets has been a problem

Peach fruit from tree not sprayed with fungicides (left) and from tree sprayed with fungicides (right). Which basket would you eat from?

Brown Marmorated Stink Bug

Prepared by Julieta Brambila, USDA-APHIS-PPQ, Gainesville, FL

Brown Marmorated Stink Bug Damage on Apple Images courtesy of C. Holko, Maryland Dept. of Ag.

Brown Marmorated Stink Bug Damage to Mature Nectarines Image courtesy of C. Holko, Maryland Dept. of Ag.

Stink Bug or Plant Bug Damage

Precautions on Some New Labels

Orchard management to protect bees and other pollinators Try to maintain solid grass roadways free of broadleaf weeds Prior to spraying with an insecticide, mow to remove any blooming weeds that can attract bees Spray when weather is calm to prevent drift

Egg laying scars Plum Curculio

Plum curculio probably caused this damage but it also looks similar to stink bug or plant bug catfacing damage

Plum curculio egg laying scars on nectarine

Plum curculio egg laying scar on nectarine

Plum Curculio Control While Multipurpose spray usually contains malathion, it may not provide effective control of plum curculio Gamma cyhalothrin can be used for improved plum curculio control

Plum curculio larva in sour cherry Plum curculio larva in a sour cherry

Plum curculio egg laying on apple

Codling Moth Pest of apple and pear Eggs are laid on the fruit or leaves After hatching the larvae crawl on the fruit surface looking for a place to bore into the fruit Spray prior to damage Kelly Jackson

Codling Moth

Oriental Fruit Moth Attacks peaches, apricot, nectarine, apple, others Feed on fruit and ends of twigs Entrance and exit holes in fruit allow for brown rot infection Slide courtesy of Kelly Jackson

Oriental fruit moth images courtesy of Cornell University

Oriental Fruit Moth Images by Ken Gray

Oriental Fruit Moth Images by Ken Gray

Questions?