Black plaque on gooseberries. The gooseberries are covered with a white coating, what should I do? Septoria - white plaque
Gooseberry rust, along with gooseberry rust, is one of the most common diseases of fruit bushes, caused by spores of pathogenic fungi. Pathogenic fungi affect the tissues of any above-ground part of the plant - leaves, branches, flowers, ovaries and fruits.
Some varieties of pathogenic rust fungi develop on a single plant, while other species require an intermediate host plant for the life cycle. Some types of pathogenic fungi overwinter in leaves that are not harvested in autumn. With the onset of spring, they form spores that are carried long distances by the wind and actively infect healthy plants. Infection occurs most quickly when the following favorable conditions are combined:
- Increased air humidity
- High air temperature.
Causes and conditions for the spread of rust on gooseberries
Most often, gooseberry bushes are affected by two types of pathogenic fungi:
- Columnar rust
- Gooseberry goblet rust.
In this case, infection most often occurs with the second type. On a diseased plant, orange-colored spots appear with spore pads that take the shape of small glasses when they open.
Signs of rust damage to gooseberry bushes
After contact with gooseberry bushes, fungal spores germinate, forming rusty spots on the leaves and berries. What happens to the affected plant:
- Yellow spots appear on the affected parts of the plant.
- Rust spots develop in edition (swells filled with fungal spores), gradually changing color as they develop from yellow to orange, rusty brown and brown.
- Affected leaves become deformed, dry out prematurely and fall off.
- The fruits are underdeveloped, dry out and quickly fall off the bush.
- Over time, the entire bush dies.
Preventive measures and control of rust on gooseberry bushes
Methods to combat rust include a set of measures to use correct agrotechnical methods, as well as timely treatment with contact and systemic fungicides.
Prevention of rust on gooseberries:
- Planting pathogen-resistant gooseberry varieties.
- Choosing a place for planting gooseberries that is free from intermediate hosts of pathogenic fungi - sedge.
- Timely mowing of areas overgrown with sedge.
- Preventive three-time treatment of plants with Bordeaux mixture - in early spring before the leaves appear, during budding and after flowering.
- Feeding plants with fertilizers with a predominance of N:P:K nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium.
- Carefully water the plants without getting water on the leaves.
- Regular collection and burning of fallen leaves in the fall.
If rust appears on the gooseberry bushes, it is necessary to immediately treat the plants with fungicidal preparations (Abiga-Pik, Bayleton, Bordeaux mixture, Topaz, Hom). If the treatment is carried out in rainy weather, then it is better to treat the affected plants with a mixture of copper sulfate solution and green soap - 400 g. green soap and 25 gr. copper sulfate per 10 liters. water. Green soap will help fix the fungicide on the gooseberry leaves even in heavy rain.
IMPORTANT: It is better to cut off branches and leaves with severe and extensive rust fungus damage and then burn them.
What drugs can be used to protect gooseberries from rust?
The most common preparations for controlling gooseberry rust include broad-spectrum fungicides.
Contact fungicides:
- Abiga-Pik aqueous suspension - the main active ingredient is copper oxychloride. This drug is prepared in a small amount of water, after which the total volume is gradually added to 10 liters. Treatment is carried out in 2 stages with a frequency of three weeks.
- Water-soluble powder Bordeaux mixture - contains two components calcium hydroxide and copper sulfate. The powders are diluted in separate containers with 1/4 part water, then topped up with water to the required volume. A suspension of calcium hydroxide is added to an aqueous solution of copper sulfate. Mixing of solutions should occur with constant stirring. The prepared working solution is not stored. Spraying fruit bushes against rust should be done three times every 25 days.
- Soluble copper sulfate powder is essentially copper sulfate. The product is diluted in a small volume of warm water. After which the volume of the solution is adjusted to the required volume. Consumption of the drug at the rate of 50 grams per 5 liters of water. A single spraying with a freshly prepared working solution is carried out in early spring, before the first young leaves appear.
Systemic fungicides:
- Bayleton wettable powder - active ingredient triadimefon. The anti-rust preparation is diluted at the rate of 10 grams per 10 liter bucket of water. The powder is first dissolved in a small amount of water, with its gradual addition to the required volume. The effect of the drug begins within 2-4 hours after treating gooseberry bushes affected by rust and lasts about 2...4 weeks.
- Topaz emulsion concentrate – active ingredient penconazole. One ampoule of concentrate is diluted in 10 liters of water. Treatment is carried out with a freshly prepared solution when the first signs of damage appear. Usually applied 4 times per season, with an interval between treatments of up to 3 weeks.
Fungicides of contact-systemic action:
- Hom wettable powder - contains copper oxychloride. The powder is prepared by adding a small amount of water. Next, the volume of the solution is adjusted to the required volume by adding water with constant stirring. A 10 liter bucket will require 40 grams of the drug. Gooseberry bushes affected by rust are sprayed twice - before flowering and after.
With regular preventive measures, rapid detection of the disease and systematic treatment with fungicides, the fight against rust on gooseberry bushes will certainly be successful.
When growing any garden crop, there is a risk of infection with a number of dangerous diseases. For example, there are gooseberry diseases that, in the absence of the necessary treatment and prevention, can cause enormous damage to the crop and lead to the death of the plant. To combat them, fungicides of different effectiveness and methods of application have been developed, allowing you to save the bush at any stage of infection.
This is a common name, or rather, a sign of the most common disease of gooseberries and many other garden crops - powdery mildew or spheroteca. It is divided into two types (European and American), both of them have almost identical external manifestations, but differ only in the type of fungus that causes the disease.
Signs
The first symptoms of powdery mildew appear in spring or early summer, immediately after the bush blooms. On the young vegetative parts of the plant (usually on the lower side) a characteristic white coating appears, which has a loose structure.
In the initial stages of the disease, it is easily erased, so some gardeners mistake the infection for ordinary pollution. Gradually, colonies of the fungus spread to the gooseberry ovaries, fruits and cover most of the plant. The plaque becomes denser every day, eventually taking on a dark brown tint.
Against the background of the disease, the growth and development of shoots stops, and they become bent.
The leaves dry out, curl and begin to separate from the plant. Powdery mildew causes the greatest damage to the crop - the fruits stop growing, a strong coating appears on the berries, they burst and crack.
If treatment is not started in time, the infected gooseberry bushes die within two to three seasons, and the pores of the fungus are carried by the wind and insects to nearby fruit bushes.
Powdery mildew can persist on fallen leaves and branches even in the most severe frosts, and when the optimal temperature is reached, the disease is activated again.
Treatment
When spheroteca fungi are detected on a plant, the fight against them should continue throughout the season, but we must not forget about preventive measures.
There are many different effective treatment methods, the most common of which are:
- All infected parts of the plant, including berries, must be taken outside the site and completely destroyed.
- Even in early spring, it is necessary to treat the bush with hot boiling water, since high temperature kills the fungus.
- It is recommended to use fungicides until the first ovaries form. Most often, Bordeaux mixture is used (a mixture of copper sulfate and milk of lime) or a solution of soda ash (50 g per 10 liters of water). To enhance the reaction and interaction with the bush, it is recommended to add 50 g of laundry soap to the solution. It is advisable to spray with chemicals in the first half of the day.
- In later stages of the disease, an infusion of wood ash is used (300 g of dry mixture per 10 liters of water). This product can be used to treat both ground and upper parts of the bush.
- If the entire planting of gooseberries and nearby plants are infected, strong complex fungicides should be used. For example, “Topaz”, “Fundazol”, “Fitosporin” and others.
- As an additional measure, you can apply organic fertilizers, such as poultry manure, mullein or humus (in a ratio of 1:3 relative to water). After feeding, the vital activity of bacteria increases, which subsequently begin to feed on the mycelium of the spheroteca.
There are a number of gooseberry varieties that have increased resistance to fungal diseases, including powdery mildew. If a spheroteca has already been observed on the site, it is recommended to plant them.
Anthracnose
The second most common gooseberry disease, which is also a fungal infection. The onset of the disease usually occurs in mid-summer, especially during the rainy season.
First, the leaves of the plant are affected - small white spots with a glossy structure appear on them. Over time, they merge with each other, spread over the entire surface of the bush, acquiring a brown tint.
If the necessary control measures are not taken in time, the leaves begin to dry out and fall off, the appearance of new shoots is reduced, and the quality of the crop deteriorates.
Treatment
Anthracnose is highly treatable if you choose the right medications. It is very important to remove fallen leaves, trim already infected vegetative parts of the plant, and then destroy them.
Septoria (white spot)
It is a type of anthracnose, but the main difference is the type of fungus that causes infection of the bush. With this disease, characteristic small spots appear on the leaves, which have a grayish tint with a brown border.
As infection progresses, black dots form on the plaque, in which an increased number of fungal spores is noted. The disease causes leaves to curl and fall off. In advanced cases, septoria completely affects the entire bush, which leads to its complete drying out.
The same fungicides as for anthracnose are suitable for treatment. Plus, as a preventative measure, it is recommended to treat the soil near the gooseberries with a weak solution of potassium permanganate, boron or zinc. It is advisable to carry out the treatment twice per season - in spring and autumn.
Rust
There are several varieties of this disease, but gooseberries are most often affected by goblet rust. This is a fungal disease that affects the leaves of the plant.
It got its name because of the specific shape of the spots, which look like small glasses. In the early stages they take on a bright orange hue and are located mainly on the lower part of the leaves.
The peak of infection occurs in early spring, when the pores of the fungus are carried by wind and insects from the soil or other plants. As the infection progresses, the foliage becomes curled and distorted and then falls off. If treatment is not started, rust affects gooseberries. Affected fruits lag behind in development, become deformed and dry out.
Treatment
The most effective way to combat gooseberry rust is to follow preventive measures and planting rules. It is recommended to plant only those varieties that are resistant to the disease. Plus, the disease is more often observed when planting near bodies of water, as well as in lowlands and areas with high humidity.
These points should be taken into account even before planting the gooseberries.
If the disease cannot be avoided, rust responds well to treatment with a 1% solution of Bordeaux mixture (100 g per 10 liters of water). The treatment is carried out in three stages - at the moment of formation of the ovaries, after the start of flowering and 10-14 days after its end.
This is a viral disease that is the most dangerous for most fruit and vegetable crops. Gooseberry mosaic is a specific disease for this type of plant, so infection occurs through living organisms, as a rule, various herbivorous insects (aphids or mites), as well as after pruning the bush with an untreated instrument.
External manifestations
Some time after infection, a characteristic pattern of bright yellow or light green color appears on the leaves. The spots are always located along the leaf veins, so the disease is easy to distinguish even in the early stages.
As the disease progresses, the bush stops growing and new shoots and ovaries do not appear. New sheets are smaller in size and have slight wrinkles on the surface. Fruiting practically does not occur.
Gooseberry mosaic is practically untreatable, so if an infection is detected, it is necessary to dig up the diseased bush and destroy it. Further prevention of the disease plays an important role - treating the plantings with insecticides to reduce the number of insects, purchasing and planting new bushes to update the genetic material of this garden crop.
Berry diseases
Many diseases typical of gooseberries also affect the fruits of this plant, which significantly deteriorates the quality and quantity of the harvest. When identifying any symptoms, it is important to accurately identify the disease, since treatment methods differ in each specific case.
The most common signs of gooseberry diseases:
- Appearance of yellowness. If the leaves and berries begin to turn yellow, we are usually talking about powdery mildew or powdery mildew. This disease affects fruits only in the later stages, so before yellowing appears, a characteristic white coating can be noticed. If the leaves have small yellow spots along the veins, the bush is probably infected with mosaic, an effective treatment for which has not yet been developed.
- Mold on berries. This symptom is characteristic only of powdery mildew, but mold can appear due to infection of the bush by aphids. To determine the disease, it is necessary to carefully examine the entire bush for the presence of clarifying signs.
- Fall of berries and leaves. Almost all diseases cause the shrub to dry out, followed by the loss of leaves and fruits. However, the cause may also be a lack of macroelements in the soil, for example, such a symptom is observed with nitrogen deficiency.
- Scab, which is one of the most common plant diseases in the home garden, is extremely rarely observed in gooseberries. Despite the fact that the risk of infection is minimal, if dark brown spots characteristic of scab appear on the leaves and fruits, the planting should be treated with a 1% solution of Bordeaux mixture (75-100 g per 10 liters of water) or copper sulfate (40 g per 10 liters ).
Prevention
Competent preventive measures can significantly reduce the risk of the appearance and development of gooseberry diseases.
Prevention of infection comes down to a few simple measures:
- All affected parts of the plant must be promptly removed and burned outside the site, since the fungus continues to live even in the dead parts of the gooseberry.
- Next to planting berry bushes, it is recommended to plant plants that repel insects and pests that spread diseases. Garlic, onions, dill, marigolds and chrysanthemums have this property.
- You should choose the gooseberry variety wisely, since some of them have increased immunity and resistance to a number of diseases.
- Treatment should be carried out at least twice per season, regardless of the presence of the disease. For preventive purposes, you can use a solution of potassium permanganate, copper sulfate or Bordeaux mixture. If there is a disease, then you need to purchase strong fungicides with a complex effect, for example, Fitosporin. When choosing a drug, you should carefully read the description and dosage of the drug.
- It is important to follow processing rules. The first application of the product should be no later than 14 days after the onset of the disease, and if it rains after using the fungicide, then the treatment of the bush must be repeated after 4-5 hours.
- It is necessary to apply all the necessary synthetic fertilizers on time, since the lack of macroelements in the soil (nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus) directly affects the condition of the gooseberries.
- To strengthen the protective forces of the bush and renew the genetic fund of the planting, it is advisable to plant new plants and trim old bushes every 3-4 years.
In order to notice the disease in time and take the necessary measures, it is important to regularly inspect the gooseberry bushes, paying attention not only to the upper part of the leaves, but also to the lower part. Timely treatment plays an important role, since the use of drugs is much more effective in the early stages of the disease.
Like other fruit and berry crops, gooseberries are susceptible to many dangerous diseases. Treatment of the disease depends on many factors - characteristics of the variety, degree and stage of infection, choice of fungicides for treatment. To get rid of fungal and viral infection of shrubs, you should follow preventive measures, regularly replant the plant and wisely choose a site for planting.
But also closely monitor his health. After all, they can significantly reduce the yield of our favorite berries, or even lead to the death of the plant.
It should be noted that gooseberry bushes They suffer mainly from the same diseases as currants, but unlike the latter, the degree of damage is much stronger and the speed of spread of diseases is faster.
Therefore, it is very important for us to catch the first signs of the disease in time and take the necessary measures. You can, of course, try to plant in your garden only those new varieties that are resistant to diseases, and ruthlessly get rid of old ones.
But, firstly, each of us has our own favorite variety, which is simply impossible to part with and which is worth fighting for; secondly, probably, such ideal varieties of gooseberries have not yet been bred that would not cause any disease at all.
Therefore, we should not relax, but need to carefully monitor the well-being of our northern grape bushes.
After all, the sooner we notice the first signs of diseases, the much faster we will help the plant cope with them. In addition, in this case it will be enough to use only traditional methods, excluding chemicals.
Gooseberry suffers most from the following diseases: American powdery mildew (spheroteca), septoria (white spot), anthracnose, goblet rust, mosaic.
As you can see, there are enough misfortunes for our gooseberries. And before we look at each of them in more detail, let's talk about prevention.
Prevention and more prevention
Undoubtedly, we all know the golden rule: it is much easier to prevent a disease than to treat it later.
This rule can certainly be applied to plants, and protecting them from pests should also begin with prevention. What preventive measures can we take:
- strict adherence to the rules of agricultural technology when growing gooseberries;
- We try to prevent thickening of the bushes and promptly cut out excess, damaged and dry branches;
- We collect and remove fallen leaves, followed by burning them;
- dig up the soil under the plant;
- We plant plants next to the gooseberry bushes that repel pests - marigolds, chrysanthemums, dill, garlic and others;
- in early spring, you can pour boiling water over the bushes, thereby destroying the spores of fungal diseases that have appeared;
- Let’s not forget about regular nutrition, which significantly strengthens the plant’s immunity;
- Spraying gooseberry bushes with a zircon solution in the spring also improves immunity.
American powdery mildew
Symptoms This fungal disease is a real plague for gooseberries, and not only for them, because currants and other plants also suffer from it.
The first symptoms of this scourge may appear in the spring immediately after flowering. Young shoots and leaves begin to become covered with a white, loose coating, which initially washes off well.
Then it gradually moves on to the ovaries and berries, covering an increasing area of them. Every day the plaque becomes more and more dense and, in the end, it begins to resemble brown or dark brown felt.
Damaged shoots begin to bend, stop developing fully, and often dry out altogether. The leaves curl and become brittle, and the berries covered with this coating stop growing, often crack and quickly fall off.
And if we do not start treatment, the affected gooseberry bushes may die within just two or three years.
Moreover, the spores of this harmful fungus are carried by the wind, infecting more and more new plants. They are not afraid of any frost, they feel great in winter on fallen leaves and infected shoots, and high summer temperatures.
That is why the fight against this insidious disease must be waged throughout the entire season - from early spring to late autumn.
Control measures. There are quite a lot of ways to combat this common disease described in the literature. I want to recommend you some of them, which I think are the most effective:
1. Pouring gooseberry bushes with boiling water in early spring partially destroys fungal spores.
2. Then you can treat the gooseberries and the soil around them with a 3% Bordeaux mixture or a solution of soda ash (50 g of soda per 10 liters of water), adding laundry soap for better adhesion of the solution. It is advisable to carry out this spraying before the buds bloom on the gooseberries.
3. It is also good to spray the bushes with an infusion of wood ash (300 g per 10 liters of water), and also add the ash to the tree trunk circles, distributing it evenly and mixing it with the ground.
4. The bacterial method of combating this insidious disease also gives very good results. To do this, take 1 part of mullein infusion or rotted manure, dilute it in 3 parts of water and leave for three days. Then dilute the infusion three times with water and filter.
You can also prepare infusions from rotted hay or hay dust, greenhouse soil or forest litter. The effectiveness of these infusions lies in the fact that the bacteria multiplying in them, once on the gooseberry bushes, begin to happily feed on the mycelium.
It is advisable to carry out treatment with these infusions three times per season: the first time we spray it before flowering, the second time immediately after it, and the third time we spray it before leaf fall.
5. Another interesting method - we make the following solution: dilute 1 liter of whey in ten liters of water and add 15-20 drops of iodine. This solution can be sprayed on bushes throughout the season every 10 days.
6. When you pick off the shoots on tomatoes, do not throw them away. They will also help us overcome powdery mildew. We infuse the tomato tops, then add 40-50 g of laundry soap to the infusion and spray the gooseberry bushes with this product. And at the end of summer, when we are already starting to remove the tomato stems, we can cover the gooseberries with them for the winter. This folk method is guaranteed to save you from pests and powdery mildew.
7. In the fall, it is necessary to carefully trim the affected plants, removing the affected ends of the shoots without any pity, collect fallen leaves and burn everything at once, without postponing this matter until later, since powdery mildew spores scatter quite quickly.
8. If the disease has already started, then, in order to avoid its spread throughout the garden, it is simply necessary to use chemical means of protection. These are drugs such as: “Topaz”, “Oxychom”, “Fitosporin” and others. In this case, strictly follow the dose recommended in the instructions for use.
Gooseberry anthracnose
Symptoms. Anthracnose is another fungal disease that primarily affects gooseberry leaves.
Initially, small, blurry dark brown spots appear on the leaves. As the disease develops, the spots merge, the leaves dry out and almost all fall off prematurely. Only at the tops of the growing shoots do three or four leaves remain.
In bushes affected by anthracnose, the growth of young shoots is significantly reduced, the sugar content of the berries is reduced, and one can no longer count on a good harvest.
Control measures. First of all, it is necessary to collect all fallen leaves, since it is in them that the fungus remains for the winter. We burn the leaves immediately.
In early spring, we check for uncollected leaves under the bushes. When the disease just begins, we tear off the affected leaves and spray the gooseberry bushes with a solution of copper sulfate (40 g per 10 liters of water).
If the disease develops dangerously, it is necessary to treat the gooseberry bushes with 1% Bordeaux mixture at least four times. We spray - before flowering, immediately after it, then 12-14 days after the second spraying and the last time we process the gooseberries immediately after harvesting.
White spot or septoria
1 - affected currant shoot, 2 - affected leaf, 3 - drying of leaves due to severe damage, 4 - pycnidia and conidia, 5 - perithecia, bags with ascospores
Symptoms This disease also affects the leaves, on which a large number of roundish grayish spots with a dark border appear. A little later, dark dots appear on the spots; they contain spores of the causative agent of septoria.
Gooseberry leaves begin to curl, dry out and fall off prematurely. After some time, the bushes remain completely without leaves.
Control measures. We fight white spot in the same way as we fight anthracnose, namely: we collect and destroy leaves (in autumn or early spring), at the initial stage we tear off diseased leaves, loosen the soil under the bushes.
We can also increase the resistance of gooseberries to septoria by adding manganese sulfate, copper, boron, and zinc to the soil around the bushes.
Glass rust
1- currant shoot with aecia on leaves and berries, 2- gooseberry shoot with affected leaves and berries, 3- affected sedge leaf with urediniospore pads, 4- sedge shoot with affected leaves, 5- aetia and aeciospores, 6- urediniospores, 7- teliospore
Then they take the form of small glasses. The fungus spends the entire spring and early summer on gooseberry bushes. Then insects and wind carry its spores to the weeds. It feels especially good on sedge.
And then all summer the fungus develops on their leaves and overwinters there.
And in the spring it returns again to the gooseberry bushes, the leaves of which, becoming diseased, become ugly and fall off prematurely. Gooseberries also change, become one-sided, their development stops, and then quickly dry out and fall off easily.
Control measures. First of all, try to plant varieties that are resistant to this disease. When planting, choose higher places on the site so that there is no stagnation of water and where sedge does not grow.
Affected plants must be treated with 1% Bordeaux mixture: first when the leaves bloom, then after flowering and the last time 8-10 days after the second.
Gooseberry mosaic
3, 3a - affected gooseberry leaves, bordering gooseberry veins
The diseases described above can affect both gooseberries and currants and even other plants.
At the same time, our gooseberries also have “their own” disease. This is gooseberry mosaic, which is a viral disease.
The virus can live and develop only in the cells of living organisms. It is spread both by sucking insects, such as aphids, and by herbivorous mites, with the sap of diseased plants, and also through undisinfected garden tools after pruning infected bushes.
Symptoms. When gooseberry bushes are affected by this disease, first of all, a bright yellow pattern begins to appear on the leaves, which is located along the main veins.
The bushes stop growing, bear fruit very poorly, the leaves are small and wrinkled.
Control measures. Gooseberry mosaic is practically untreatable. Bushes affected by the disease must be dug up and burned immediately.
In order for gooseberries to avoid this disease, we will take preventive measures: purchasing and planting healthy seedlings; We treat the bushes against sucking insects in a timely manner so that the disease is not introduced; comply with quarantine measures.
At the end of the article, some general tips for processing plants:
- We begin treating gooseberries with all these solutions as soon as the first signs of the disease appear with an interval of 10-12 days.
- If it rains within 5 hours after our treatment, then spraying must be repeated.
- Two weeks before the scheduled harvest of berries, we finish treating the bushes with all preparations.
- It is best to treat gooseberry bushes against diseases and pests in the evening or in cloudy weather during the day.
- When processing, try to generously moisten not only the top side of the leaves, but do not forget about the bottom.
In this article, we got acquainted with various gooseberry diseases and learned how to deal with them. Now we need to deal with our beloved gooseberries, but that’s in the next article.
See you soon, dear readers!
Gooseberries are part of a group of plants characterized by low resistance to certain fungal diseases. Fungal diseases most often lead to drying out of gooseberries. Vigorous gooseberry varieties often suffer from this disease. In the article we will tell you why mold and mildew appear on gooseberries, and how to fight them using folk and chemical methods.
Gooseberries are most often affected by fungal diseases such as:
- powdery mildew;
- septoria;
- anthracnose;
- rust.
Many diseases develop as a result of poor plant care.
Powdery mildew: types of disease, development and symptoms
The disease powdery mildew (spheroteca) is also popularly known as ash, white thread or white. There are two types of disease:
- European powdery mildew - mainly affects the leaves and shoots of gooseberries. On late varieties of gooseberries, the fungus can also develop on the berries. The disease manifests itself in the form of a white coating, which is formed from thin fibers produced by fungal spores. From the initial stage of the disease to the deepest degree of damage, the plaque does not change color and remains grayish-white.
- American powdery mildew - mainly affects leaves and berries. A white coating forms on the affected areas. When the plant is deeply damaged, a white coating also forms on the shoots. At the beginning of the development of the disease, the plaque is characterized as white; in the absence of timely treatment, the plaque becomes brown and forms mummies with brown felt.
The development of both types of disease is cyclical in nature and affects gooseberries from the bottom up. The danger of the disease lies in the fact that the affected shoots, berries and leaves crack due to an increase in spore mycelium, which leads to secondary infection of the plant, after which the plant begins to rot and die.
On the affected areas of the plant, a white coating of spores forms, which, when ripened, forms droplets, hence the name “powdery mildew.”
Tip #1. In order to destroy the disease, it is necessary to cut off the affected parts of the plant, which should be burned after removal.
When the plant is completely removed, the soil is dug deep and phosphorus-potassium fertilizers are applied. Powdery mildew spores are spread by wind, rain, insects, and also by humans when caring for plantings. Powdery disease spreads quickly, especially during summer, develops in low-lying and shady areas, and affects not only gooseberries, but also currants.
Stages of development of powdery mildew
Powdery mildew affects gooseberries in the spring, when the flowering stage ends. The development of the disease has several stages:
- Initial stage: a light grayish coating appears on the shoots and leaves. The structure of the plaque is loose. At this stage of disease development, plaque (spore mycelium) is easily removed.
- Progressive stage of disease development: spores grow and form on gooseberry ovaries. The plaque acquires a viscous structure.
- The last stage of the disease is characterized by the formation of a dense cocoon on the affected areas, which envelops the areas, turning them into “mummies”. The threads of the cocoon darken and become brown. Under the cocoons, the plant organs become deformed, curl, and dry out. The growth and growth of shoots stops, the leaves and ovaries fall off. The plant weakens, the stem part and plant organs crack, and as a result of secondary infection they rot, which leads to the complete death of the gooseberry.
Experienced gardeners recommend carefully assessing your ability to care for the plant when planting gooseberries. For those who do not have the opportunity to monitor gooseberries, but have a desire to grow them on their plot, gardeners suggest planting hybrid varieties of gooseberries and certain varieties resistant to fungal diseases. "
Disease-resistant gooseberry varieties
Below are varieties characterized as resistant to fungal diseases:
Fungal disease anthracnose: features of the development of the disease
Anthracnose is a fungal disease; a humid climate is a favorable environment for development. It mainly affects leaves, shoots and petioles of gooseberries; in rare cases, anthracnose appears on berries.
Brown spots form on the affected areas, which grow at tremendous speed and spread to healthy areas of the plant. In the absence of timely treatment, ulcers form on the affected leaves and petioles. At this stage, the growth and development of young gooseberries stops. Old gooseberry bushes stop bearing fruit, the growth of young shoots stops, and the leaves die off.
Anthracnose spores are not afraid of frost and overwinter in fallen leaves. Disease persistence in the external environment for up to 2 years
The spread of the disease can be stopped by neutralizing the accumulation of spores, which form in the form of mycelium on the leaves of the plant, and after they fall, they continue to form new spore communities in fallen leaves and in accumulations of plant waste. That is why the fight against anthracnose begins after removing fallen leaves.
At the first signs of anthracnose, the plant should be immediately treated with a solution of copper sulfate, for the preparation of which it is enough to mix 30 g of copper sulfate with 5 liters of water. The solution is used to treat not only affected gooseberry bushes, but also healthy ones.
Fungal diseases of gooseberries: brown and white spot
Septoria is a fungal disease known as brown spot. Affects leaves and shoots of gooseberries. Shapeless grayish spots with a brown edging around appear on the affected areas. Spots on leaves and shoots develop very quickly, covering the entire leaf or shoot within a month. The affected areas dry out, curl and turn brown.
Septoria develops at air temperatures above +20C.
To neutralize the disease, it is necessary to remove the infected parts of the plant. After removal, treat the gooseberries with chemicals.
Tip #2. To increase the resistance of gooseberries to a disease such as septoria, experienced gardeners recommend applying fertilizers with a high content of zinc, manganese and copper to the soil twice a year.
White spot - a fungal disease that affects only gooseberries, and only the leaves. The development of the disease occurs as a result of poor plant care. With poor care, photosynthesis is disrupted in gooseberry leaves, resulting in the formation of dry white spots with a dark edge. If you examine the affected leaf under a microscope, you can see spores on the surface of the white spots that are located in the tissues of the leaves.
White spotting leads to leaf drop and also reduces the plant's resistance to other diseases. The harm from such a fungus is minimal and mainly indicates the need for better care.
Pillar rust: types of fungus, disease development
The disease can be caused by two types of fungi; the color of the spores resembles rust. The first type of disease is caused by a fungus such as Puchinia. The development of the disease begins in early spring. Puchinia fungi attack the lower part of the leaf and unripe gooseberries.
At the initial stage of the disease, yellowish growths form on the affected areas, later the growths degenerate and form pits in which mycelium actively begins to develop, from which orange spores appear. This type of disease occurs in the middle and northern zone. Carried away by wind and rain.
The second type of disease is caused by a turf fungus that forms specific reddish cushions on the lower parts of the leaves. By autumn, such pads turn brown, persist through the winter and re-develop in early spring. The disease has a cyclical nature of development; in the absence of timely treatment, the growth of new shoots and productivity decreases.
If anthracnose is not treated, the gooseberry completely dies out in 1.5-2 years
Traditional methods of combating fungal diseases of gooseberries
Gooseberries are mainly processed during the fruiting period. During this period, chemical treatment is not the best option, as it is an unsafe method. Experienced gardeners during the fruiting period of gooseberries recommend fighting diseases using traditional methods.
There are 5 main folk recipes that effectively eliminate fungal and mold diseases of gooseberries:
- Manganese solution - used to remove fungus from berries and plant leaves. The solution allows you to stop the further development of the fungus, and also disinfects areas of the plant that are not affected by fungus and mold. Potassium permanganate is diluted with water - 10 g of potassium permanganate per 15 liters of water. Treatment with the solution proceeds by spraying. The procedure should be carried out once every 10 days, until harvest.
- Decoction of wood ash. To prepare the decoction, you need to mix half a bucket of wood ash with 10 liters of water and boil for 20-30 minutes. The resulting decoction should be diluted with water in a 1:1 ratio. In order for the solution to stick to the gooseberry leaves and berries during processing, laundry soap is added to the solution. Treat with a spray bottle.
- Manure solution. Fresh manure is poured with cold water. Mix half a bucket of manure with 10 liters of water. The solution is stored in a dark place for 3 days. The solution must be thoroughly mixed daily. After 3 days, the finished mass is filtered and diluted with water in a ratio of 1:10. Mix with water before processing. Treat once a week by spraying.
- Organic infusion. To prepare, mix half a bucket of rotted hay in equal quantities with forest litter and add greenhouse soil. The mixture is soaked in water with the calculation of one part of the mixture in three parts of water and put in a warm place for 3 days. The finished infusion is applied by spraying.
- Mullein infusion. Half a bucket of cow dung is mixed with a bucket of warm water. The mixture is put in a warm place for three days, after which the infusion is filtered and again diluted with warm water in equal proportions. It should be diluted with water before spraying the plant. Treat the plant once every 5-6 days. If the disease has completely affected the gooseberry, then it is not advisable to use traditional methods of treatment; in such situations it is necessary to resort to the help of fungicides.
As a preventive measure, gooseberries are treated with antifungal solutions before and after flowering, as well as before leaf fall.
Chemicals to combat fungal diseases
After timely pruning of the affected shoots and leaves of the gooseberry, they are treated with chemicals. To combat fungal diseases of gooseberries, the following fungicides are used:
- “Topaz” is a systemic chemical that suppresses fungal diseases during the period of active growth of spores and their release from the fruit unit. Can be used in any weather conditions. The effect can be observed in the first 2-3 days, protection lasts up to 15 days. The main advantage of the drug is that it is non-toxic. Used mainly in spring before and after flowering.
- "Fundazol" is a broad-spectrum active ingredient. Used on the hottest days; the higher the air temperature, the more effective. The drug is low toxic. After treatment, the protective effect lasts from 10 to 25 days. The drug penetrates through the roots and leaves of the plant. Used in any climate zones. Treat before flowering and after harvest.
- "Topsin" is a systemic drug used for preventive and therapeutic purposes. When processing a plant, the substance is absorbed by the root system. The result is visible within 3 days. Protection lasts for a month.
- “But” - suppresses the growth and development of pathogenic fungal formations. Used as a therapeutic and prophylactic drug. Treatment can be carried out in any weather conditions by spraying. The protective effect lasts for half a month.
The table shows the most widely used chemicals for fungal diseases of gooseberries.
Chemical substances | Use for diseases | Processing method |
Topaz | Powdery mildew, septoria, rust, anthracnose, scab. | Requires treatment 2 times a year. Treated by spraying, carried out in dry, windless weather. The drug is diluted in water in a ratio of 2-3 ml of the drug per 10 liters of water. |
Fundazol | Powdery mildew | Used as a disease prevention. In case of disease, the plant is treated by root treatment, as well as by spraying the above-ground part of the plant. Gooseberries are processed 2-3 times per season. The drug is mixed with water in a ratio of 1 g per liter of water. |
Topsin | Powdery mildew, anthracnose | Gooseberries are treated 2 times a year before flowering and after harvest by spraying. The drug is mixed in a ratio of 10 g per 10 liters of water. " |
But | Powdery mildew, anthracnose | Gooseberries are processed 2 times a year. At the end of flowering and during fruiting. The interval between treatments is 7-8 days. The bushes are treated by spraying; 0.15 g of the drug is used per 1 liter of water. |
Preventive control measures
It is much easier to prevent any plant diseases than to try to neutralize them. Preventive measures include:
- Follow the agrotechnical rules for growing gooseberries. When planting, maintain the required distance between plants. Carry out thinning procedures in a timely manner to remove damaged and weak leaves and shoots. It is important to remember that thickening is one of the main reasons for the development of fungal diseases.
- Timely collection of fallen leaves and accumulation of other vegetation, which create favorable soil for the development of fungus and mold. After harvesting, loosen the soil well.
- Treat the plant with boiling water twice a year; boiling water destroys the spores.
- You can avoid infection if you increase the gooseberry's resistance to diseases. To do this, in spring and autumn the plant is fed with a solution called “Zircona”.
- Throughout the year, feed the plant not only with nitrogen fertilizers, but also with phosphorus-potassium fertilizers. It is important to know that an excess of nitrogenous fertilizers leads to fungal diseases. "
Frequently asked questions when combating fungal diseases of gooseberries
Question No. 1. Is it possible to get rid of powdery mildew by removing only the infected areas of the plant?
Removing only the affected gooseberry organs without adding potassium fertilizers will not give the desired result. After treatment for 2 years, it is necessary to apply potassium fertilizers in October and April.
Question No. 2. At what time of year are gooseberries susceptible to powdery mildew?
Summer is the most favorable time of year for the development of this disease. At this time, the spores grow and are released from the mycelium. Hot and dry weather contributes to the development and spread of this disease. In summer, it spreads more often when watering plants.
Question No. 3. To which fungicides do fungal diseases develop resistance and immunity?
All chemicals intended to combat fungal diseases of gooseberries are characterized by the emergence of resistance. To prevent disease resistance and addiction to drugs, fungicides should be alternated.
Question No. 4. Are there environmentally friendly fungicides?
There are biological drugs. These include Fitosporin, Pseudobacterin and Gamair.
Question No. 5. What fertilizers increase resistance to fungal diseases?
Phosphorus-potassium fertilizers increase resistance to pathogens of fungal diseases. Nitrogenous fertilizing should be excluded during the period of budding and fruiting of gooseberries. An excess of nitrogenous fertilizers promotes the proliferation of spores of fungal diseases.
Common mistakes when dealing with fungal diseases of gooseberries
- Treatment is carried out without removing the affected plant organs
- Affected leaves and shoots are removed, but left in a general pile of vegetation on the site.
- When applying fertilizers, use only nitrogenous fertilizers.
Among all the effective folk methods of combating powdery mildew on gooseberries, the most effective method of control is the replacement method. The essence of this method is to replace mold and fungal bacteria with more active but beneficial microorganisms.
Natural dairy products - milk or whey - are used to replace harmful bacteria with beneficial microorganisms. Mix the dairy product with water in a ratio of 1:10 and spray the gooseberries. When microorganisms colonize areas of the plant, they eat fungal and mold spores, thereby destroying the disease.
Great importance in growing gooseberries is given to proper plant care. After all, healthy, timely watered, fertilized and treated bushes are less at risk of disease. And with insufficient prevention and unfavorable conditions, you can lose both the established harvest and the plants themselves. That is why it is very important to recognize the signs of diseases in time, to know their causes and methods of control. Let's look at the article about what gooseberry diseases are and how they can be treated.
Causes and signs of gooseberry diseases
The causes of diseases can be various rots, fungi, viruses, as well as a deficiency of basic nutrients in the soil. The spread of infections occurs due to improper care and unfavorable weather conditions. You can recognize that berry plants are sick by the following main signs:
- atypical coloring and various spots on the leaves;
- curling, drying, falling leaves;
- fungal plaques on leaves and shoots;
- deformation of buds, shoots and branches, growths;
- spots, mold, plaque on berries, changing their shape and crushing;
- decrease in yield;
- spots on shoots and lack of growth;
- drying out of branches and death of the bush.
Prevention of diseases on young and old bushes
It is known that diseases are easier to prevent than to treat. Therefore, proper prevention is very important. Let's consider the main activities:
- Seedlings should only be purchased from reputable nurseries. Products must have the appropriate documents, certificates and sanitary control certificates.
- Before planting, bushes of unknown origin are disinfected by soaking for 5 minutes in a 1% solution of copper sulfate, and then washed well with water.
- For planting, choose varieties that are not susceptible to major diseases.
- The berry garden is placed in a lighted and elevated place, where there is no dampness and good air circulation is ensured. It is important to maintain a distance of 1.2-2.0 m (depending on the variety) between the bushes.
- Watering is carried out regularly, but without allowing waterlogging. The soil should be loose and nutritious, all weeds should be removed.
- The bushes are pruned in a timely manner, treated against pests and diseases, and damaged shoots are burned.
- All fallen leaves are collected in the fall and the sick ones are destroyed.
- The soil is loosened and dug up in the fall, destroying weeds and wintering pests. Read also the article: → "".
- To strengthen the immune system, timely application of potassium-phosphorus fertilizers is necessary, as well as spraying with the preparation “Zircon” - in the spring when the first leaves appear and in the fall after harvesting.
- Harmful insects and slugs are carriers of fungal diseases, spreading spores; they must be combated.
Gooseberry varieties resistant to spheroteca
Variety name | Berry coloring | Bush shape |
Eaglet | Black | Spreading, medium height |
Change | Red | Spreading, vigorous |
Kolobok | Red | Spreading, medium height |
Northern captain | Black | Semi-spreading, vigorous |
Northerner | Green-yellow | Spreading, medium height |
Reliable | Pink | |
smart | Dark red | Semi-spreading, medium height |
Commander | Dark cherry | Spreading, medium height |
Cooperator | Dark cherry | Spreading, medium height |
Lights of Krasnodar | Dark red | Medium height |
Review of methods for treating infected bushes
Treatments for gooseberry diseases may include:
- agricultural practices;
- application of fertilizers and foliar feeding for diseases caused by nutritional deficiency;
- spraying with chemical and biological agents;
- traditional methods of treatment with natural remedies. Read also the article: → "".
To successfully combat diseases, it is important not to miss the initial symptoms, when the use of natural remedies is still effective. After all, it is quite difficult to cope with old forms of diseases, especially such dangerous ones as spheroteka, even with the help of chemicals. Therefore, severely affected bushes will have to be uprooted.
Pros and cons of treatment methods
The advantage of using chemicals in the treatment of diseases is their effectiveness and duration of action. The negative side is the harm that they can cause to health if used incorrectly, as well as the impossibility of using them during flowering and ripening of berries. There is a possibility that during this period the disease will flare up again with renewed vigor, especially if it rains and there is high humidity in the area.
Traditional methods of treatment are harmless, but have a rather weak effect, so they are applicable only at the very initial stages of the disease. It is impossible to treat diseases without proper agricultural technology and timely fertilization of the soil. More detailed information on specific treatment methods can be found in reviews of diseases characteristic of gooseberries.
American powdery mildew (spheroteka)
Found in spring or throughout the summer. It manifests itself as a whitish fungal coating, similar to frost or flour. As a rule, it is first located below the leaves, and then captures their upper surfaces and young shoots. The leaves curl, the shoots dry out and die, the berries stop growing, and whitish spots appear on them.
The color of the plaque gradually changes, becoming grayish and then brown. At first it can be rubbed off, but later it thickens and looks like felt. This occurs due to the growth and darkening of the mycelium. The disease is dangerous because it is quite difficult to destroy the fungus that overwinters on the shoots. It develops over two to three years, infecting neighboring shrubs, and can completely destroy plantings.
Spheroteka affects the entire plant and berries, it is important to start treatment on time, using recommended drugs, for example, “Topaz”
Tip #1. The spread of the disease is facilitated by dense plantings in shaded areas and high humidity due to frequent watering or rain.
Methods for treating powdery mildew
- Damaged branches are cut off both in spring and autumn, burning along with fallen infected berries to prevent secondary damage. Read also the article: → "".
- For prevention and treatment, spraying with such agents as “Topaz”, “Gaupsin”, “Oxychom” is used. Dilute the drugs according to the instructions. Spraying is carried out before flowering, when the first young leaves appear, then after 2 weeks and after harvesting.
- Spring treatment (before buds open) with 1% copper sulfate or Bordeaux mixture helps a lot. Spray the bush, including the tree trunk circles.
- A 0.5% solution of soda ash also works effectively. Spraying is carried out 4 times: when leaves appear, immediately after flowering, then 2 weeks later and after picking the berries.
- Traditional methods of control include spraying with infusion of ash. It needs to be poured with boiling water (3 kg of ash per bucket) and left for a day, then strain. The bush will require approximately 3 liters of infusion.
- As a preventive measure, before the appearance of swollen buds, the plants are doused with heated water +70-80°C. Manganese is sometimes added to it until it turns pink or soda (1-2 tbsp per bucket).
- A solution of rotted manure or hay, hay dust, or humus is used. Take 3 parts water for 1 part, leave for about 5 days, then filter. The resulting infusion is diluted with water 1 to 3 and sprayed on diseased bushes. Beneficial bacteria that have multiplied in the solution destroy the spheroteca fungus and begin to feed on it.
- Gardeners advise preparing an infusion of tomato tops (proportions 1 to 3). The tops are crushed, poured with boiling water and left for 5-7 days, then grated household soap (50 g per bucket) is added, mixed and sprayed on the bushes. The tree trunk circles are covered with beveled tops.
- For spraying, a solution of serum and iodine is used. Take 1 liter of whey and 20 drops of iodine per bucket of water. Treatment is carried out every 2 weeks.
Tip #2.You need to spray very carefully, covering the entire bush, shoots and trunk circles, the upper and lower surfaces of the leaves. Spraying is carried out in the evening or during the day in dry, cloudy and windless weather.
Anthracnose affecting shoots and leaves
This fungal disease is characterized by damage to leaves, shoots, flowers and berries. Infestation usually spreads during periods of high humidity and temperature, reaching its peak in the second half of the season. Brown spots appear on the leaves, which later merge. The leaves dry out and fall off, and young shoots are also affected.
Berries, mainly of late varieties, become stained, become tasteless, dry out and crumble. Fungal mycelia persist in winter in diseased shoots and fallen leaves, contributing to plant infection in the next season. Weakened bushes do not tolerate winter well, subsequently reduce productivity and may die if treatment is not carried out in a timely manner.
Methods of prevention and treatment
- Selection of disease-resistant varieties, compliance with the rules of agricultural technology. Watering should be moderate.
- Timely harvesting and burning of all affected leaves and berries, cutting and destruction of diseased shoots.
All infected shoots must be promptly cut out and burned.
- Autumn digging of the earth, treatment of the soil with copper sulfate.
- In early spring, before the buds open, spray with a 1-3% solution of Bordeaux mixture or nitrafen (150 g / 5 l of water).
- After flowering, repeat spraying with Bordeaux solution (1%).
- Copper (or iron) sulfate (1-3%), soda ash, and fungicides are used to treat bushes. Spraying should be abundant, including the tree trunk circles, where fungal spores may remain.
- If the disease is detected during the ripening of berries, then traditional methods are used - spraying with a solution of ash, infusion of humus or hay.
Tip #3.In the spring, add potassium sulfate to the soil (20-30 g per 1 sq.m.), it helps to increase the gooseberry's resistance to diseases. At the same time, excess nitrogen in the soil weakens plants.
Septoria on gooseberries (White spot)
Spots appear on leaves and shoots affected by the fungus, at first bright, then pale and become white or grayish with a border. They are round or sinuous in shape and contain fungal spores. The leaves begin to dry out and fall off, which has a detrimental effect on the plant, reducing shoot growth and yield.
Leaves affected by septoria are destroyed and the bushes are sprayed
- Proper and timely care of plantings;
- Destruction of affected foliage and shoots;
- Spraying with Bordeaux mixture (1-3%) before buds open. In case of severe damage, repeat 2-3 more times.
- Drugs recommended for the treatment of spheroteca and anthracnose are also used.
Rust on gooseberry leaves
The crop may suffer from a fungal infection, which forms a coating on the leaves that resembles rusty smudges. The leaf blades have yellow spots on top and orange growths on the bottom. There are two types of rust - columnar and goblet.
The affected foliage withers, curls, and falls off. The berries often grow one-sided, dry out and crumble. The disease disfigures and depletes the bush, causing premature exposure of branches, reducing the yield not only of the current year, but also of the next year.
When a rust disease occurs, fungal spores are located on the surface of the leaves; spraying must be done so as to cover their entire area.
Methods of prevention and treatment:
- Weeding, draining excessively wet areas with sedge, which is a transmission link in infection with this disease;
- Collecting and burning diseased and fallen leaves;
- Spraying with Bordeaux mixture, soda solution, fungicides are also used for treatment.
Answers to pressing questions about gooseberry diseases and methods of treating them
Question No. 1. The leaves on the gooseberries became covered with spots and then began to fall off, spots also appeared on the shoots, why did this happen?
It is possible that anthracnose or septoria infection has occurred. This fungus attacks leaves and shoots, causing them to dry out and die. It is necessary to collect and destroy all diseased foliage so that the disease does not spread further, and also to carry out appropriate treatment of the bushes.
Young shoots may become infected with brown or white spot and must be removed and burned
Question No. 2. The summer was very rainy, what is the likelihood of gooseberry diseases in conditions of high soil moisture?
The probability of diseases during periods with heavy precipitation is very high. It can be significantly reduced by providing the required regular fertilizing with potassium-phosphorus fertilizers and microelements (manganese, boron, zinc, copper), as well as by timely preventive spraying.
Question No. 3. How optimal is the use of folk remedies in the fight against gooseberry diseases?
Natural remedies used in the fight against diseases, such as infusions of ash, manure or plant decoctions, give a less lasting effect than “chemistry”. Therefore, they need to be repeated more often.
Question No. 4. What should you do if, after spraying the gooseberries, it starts raining a few hours later?
Spraying will have to be repeated.
Question No. 5. Can pests be carriers of gooseberry diseases?
Yes, of course they can. They spread fungal spores and viruses when they feed on the juices of diseased plants. They must be destroyed in a timely manner.
Feedback on the treatment of gooseberry diseases
We have been growing gooseberries recently, just for a few years. Initially, the seedlings were bought at a gardening store; they looked healthy. There were no stains or plaques on the leaves and shoots. We specifically decided to choose varieties that would be resistant to spheroteca, since this is a very dangerous disease, and there is no guarantee that it can be successfully cured.
The following varieties were recommended to us: “Ogni Krasnodar”, “Russian”, “Kubanets”, they are zoned in our region. The plantings were done following the advice and the required fertilizers were applied. The next year, during the rainy summer, spots appeared on some of the leaves, and they helped us determine that it was anthracnose or brown spot.
We sprayed with Fitosporin, then, to increase the immunity of the plants, we applied foliar fertilizing with microelements and took ready-made preparations. They carefully collected diseased leaves, destroyed weeds and loosened the soil, and the disease subsided. Now we try not to skip all the recommended preventive measures, and do not forget to carry out the required spring spraying.
How to avoid mistakes when leaving
Mistake #1. The application of increased doses of nitrogen fertilizers reduces the immunity of gooseberries.
Apply potassium-phosphorus fertilizers and foliar fertilizing with microelements, which increase disease resistance.
Mistake #2. Frequent watering and high humidity can provoke the development of gooseberry diseases.
Combat high soil moisture by reducing watering within reasonable limits. Make sure that the plantings are well ventilated and not crowded, and do pruning, loosening and weeding in a timely manner.
Mistake #3. Autumn cleaning of fallen leaves is not carried out.
It is imperative to remove all fallen leaves, especially diseased ones, and then destroy them, since spores of pathogenic fungi remain on the leaves.