Under certain conditions, glossy medlars are attacked by fungal diseases. You can protect your shrubs by paying attention to proper care. In the event of illness, rapid action is required.
Fungal attack is manifested by brown spots on the leaves
The emergence of fungal diseases
Fungal spores spread preferentially in windy and rainy weather. You need warm temperatures to grow. Such climatic conditions prevail in summer in locations that are not exposed to direct sunlight.
The spores prefer to colonize diseased or weakened plants, because here they find numerous opportunities to grow. Damage to the bark, leaves or buds provide the spores with an ideal breeding ground. Whether a shrub will be attacked by a fungal disease also depends on the variety. Older varieties have often developed a defense system against the diseases and are less susceptible than new varieties.
These factors favor fungal infestation:
- lack of light
- too dense vegetation
- Nutrient deficiency due to incorrect fertilization
Frequent fungal attack by apple scab and leaf tan
In the case of apple scab, the fungal spores cause a greenish to greyish discoloration of the leaves, which appears in the form of spots. This fungal disease spreads rapidly because the spores are formed asexually. A heavy fungal infestation causes the tissue of the leaf cells to die off. In rainy and windy weather, the spores spread.
Leaf tan also causes blotchy discoloration on the leaves. The fungal attack causes reddish or black spots. This disease does not cause the leaves to die off. Fallen leaves carry a higher risk of infection, since the spores feel particularly comfortable here and attach themselves.
countermeasures
Cut off the infected parts of the plant. To prevent further spread of the spores, do not dispose of leftovers in the compost. A copper-based fungicide eliminates any spore residues on the plants. This remedy is effective in diseases with leaf tan. Fight apple scab with a triforin-based spray solution.
Strengthen your medlar with an extract of field horsetail, which you add to the irrigation water. Alternatively, nettle manure or a mixture of garlic cloves is suitable. You can spray the solutions directly onto the infected leaves using a spray bottle. The nettle manure inhibits the fungal spores in the event of an infestation, while regular spraying with garlic in the spring has a preventive effect.