Content
Sea buckthorn diseases and insect pests can nullify all the gardener’s efforts to obtain a good harvest of berries from this shrub. Although the plant has good immunity, it can often suffer due to poor agricultural practices or bad weather conditions. This article talks about diseases and pests of sea buckthorn and the fight against them, as well as the prevention of their occurrence.
Signs of sea buckthorn disease
Sea buckthorn diseases are recognized by many signs. Since most infections that affect this plant are fungal, they can be detected visually. Signs of the disease include:
- Yellowing, blackening, premature wilting and falling of leaves.
- Changes in the color of the tree bark, the appearance of stains, plaque, mold, and areas of rot on it.
- Premature falling of berries, change in their consistency, drying out, rotting.
- The appearance of growths and neoplasms.
Sea buckthorn diseases and their control
It is very important to see and recognize the disease in time. In this case, sometimes you can get by with sanitary measures and save the tree from death. Listed below are the main diseases of sea buckthorn with photos.
Scab
This disease, otherwise called stegmina, can completely kill a sea buckthorn bush in a few seasons. It can be detected by numerous black spots on leaves, young branches and berries.
Usually, due to this disease, up to half of the crop is lost in the first season. After winter, part of the bush may dry out, and after 3-4 years the entire plant will die.
At the first signs of scab appearing on sea buckthorn, you need to tear off and burn all affected leaves and shoots, and in the fall, collect and burn all fallen leaves. In the spring, before the beginning of the growing season, the bushes need to be sprayed with a 3% solution of nitrafen.
Endomycosis
Endomycosis is a fungal disease of sea buckthorn fruits. It usually appears in the first half of August. Affected berries soften and become watery. Then their shell breaks. The contents of the fruit, along with fungal spores, are carried by water to healthy berries, infecting them as well.
To protect against endomycosis, sea buckthorn bushes are sprayed with 1% Bordeaux mixture or 0.4% copper chloride solution.
Stem rot
The causative agent of stem rot is a tinder fungus, the spores of which live and reproduce in the bark.The affected wood begins to separate along the annual rings, which is why the disease is also called white ring rot. Infection occurs through damage to the bark.
To combat the fungus, you need to promptly remove the affected branches. All cuts and damage to sea buckthorn bark must be promptly treated with a solution of copper sulfate and painted over with oil paint.
As a preventive measure, before the buds open, sea buckthorn is treated with a solution of Bordeaux mixture 1% or analogue drugs (Abiga-Peak, HOM).
Ulcerative necrosis of the cortex
The causative agent of the disease is a fungus that develops in the bark of a tree. A growth appears at the site of the lesion, which then bursts lengthwise and opens.
Fungal spores land on new areas of the bark and infect them. As the fungus develops, the trunk dries out and dies. Lesions on young shoots of sea buckthorn are stronger and more numerous, in this case the plant is likely to die.
Prevention and treatment measures for this disease are the same as for stem rot. The growths are cut off by treating with copper sulfate. In spring, plants are sprayed with Bordeaux mixture.
Nectria necrosis
The fungus that causes this disease attacks the bark of sea buckthorn. You can recognize it by the red spore pads located along the shoot. The shoot affected by the fungus dries out and dies over time.
They must be removed. As a preventive measure, bushes are sprayed in early spring with a 1% solution of Bordeaux mixture or analogues.
Alternaria sea buckthorn bark
This is a fungal disease that primarily affects the bark of sea buckthorn. It can be recognized by the black velvet coating that appears on the shoots in wet weather.Abundant rainfall leads to the rapid development of the disease, the leaves turn brown and fall off, the branches dry out and die. This is especially pronounced on the lower tier of shrubs in dense plantings, as well as on young trees.
Prevention is the timely implementation of sanitary pruning of sea buckthorn, thinning of plantings, and removal of affected areas of branches. It is imperative to process and disinfect sections.
In early spring and autumn, the shrub is treated with Bordeaux mixture 1% to prevent the disease.
Brown spot
First of all, the causative fungus infects sea buckthorn leaves, on which brown spots of irregular shape appear. Subsequently, they quickly merge with each other. Over time, pycnidia - black dots with fruiting bodies of the fungus - become clearly visible on dead tissue. Later they appear on fruits and shoot bark.
Measures to prevent the appearance of the disease are the same as for other fungi. In early spring, sea buckthorn bushes should be sprayed with a 1% solution of Bordeaux mixture, and if necessary, repeat the treatment in the fall. All parts of the plant affected by the fungus must be removed and burned.
Septoria spot
Septoria blight manifests itself in the appearance of rounded brown spots on the upper leaf plate, surrounded by a colorless ring. Over time, pycnidia form in them. The diseased plant flies around already in August; shoots and berries, as a rule, do not ripen. The frost resistance of sea buckthorn is sharply reduced.
Preventive measures are the same as for brown spotting.
Fusarium wilt
The appearance of this type of fungus leads to complete withering of the plant.It affects the shoots of sea buckthorn, the leaves on them dry out, the fruits do not ripen, although they acquire a characteristic color.
Affected branches should be cut out and burned.
Verticillium wilt
Verticillium is a fungal disease that affects not only sea buckthorn, but also other garden crops. Symptoms of damage include slow development of the plant, its premature drying and wilting, as well as the presence of a large amount of root rot.
There are no ways to combat the disease. The infected plant must be dug up and burned.
Blackleg
A disease caused by soil fungi affects seedlings. The subcotyledonous knee becomes thinner at the point of contact with the soil. The stalk of the sea buckthorn simply rots and it falls to the ground.
To prevent the development of the disease, it is recommended to plant the young plant in a nutrient substrate consisting of sand and turf soil (1:1). In addition, once a week the seedlings are carefully watered with a pale pink solution of potassium permanganate.
Black cancer
The fungus that causes this disease of sea buckthorn bark can be recognized by the characteristic black spots on the trunk. Over time, the affected bark cracks and flies off, and the wood underneath also turns black. The spots gradually enlarge, merging with each other and forming ulcers. The development of diseased sea buckthorn bushes is greatly slowed down.
To combat the fungus, diseased areas are cleaned and treated with a mixture of clay, mullein and copper sulfate solution.
Heterosporiasis
The fungus that causes this disease affects not only sea buckthorn, but also more than 140 species of other plants, including:
- cereals;
- forage grasses;
- lilac;
- flowers (irises, nasturtiums, orchids).
The disease appears on the back of the leaves in the form of dark spots with a purple border. Over time, they grow, merge and the leaf dies completely.
Often the fungus settles on the bark of the shoot and sea buckthorn berries, forming a brown or brown-olive coating. If detected, leaves and affected branches should be cut off and burned.
Fruit rot
This disease is caused by a fungus. It affects sea buckthorn berries, which under its influence become soft, flabby, and over time begin to leak, turn black and dry out. Remaining on the branches, mummified fruits are a constant source of disease.
Prevention of fungal development consists of spraying sea buckthorn bushes with a 1% solution of Bordeaux mixture in spring and autumn. Dried berries must be removed from the branches and burned.
A set of preventive measures against sea buckthorn diseases
The vast majority of sea buckthorn diseases are fungal infections. They develop best in conditions of high humidity and temperature. Therefore, the general rule is sanitary care of sea buckthorn, removal of fallen leaves, thinning of plantings, pruning of dry, broken and disease-affected branches. There is also no need to allow water to stagnate in the roots.
An important step in preventing the development of fungi is also spraying sea buckthorn plantings. This is done in early spring, before the beginning of the growing season, and in the fall, after the leaves fall.For treatment, a 1% solution of Bordeaux mixture or its analogues is used. After the pruning procedure, all sections must be treated with a solution of copper-containing preparations, and then painted over with natural-based oil paint. This will prevent the development of infection.
Sea buckthorn pests and their control
Like many garden crops, sea buckthorn is quite often attacked by pests. To obtain a good harvest, it is imperative to take measures to protect and prevent their occurrence. The most common pests of sea buckthorn are presented in the review.
Sea buckthorn aphid
Aphids are microscopic insects that are light green, black or brown in color. Lives on leaves and young shoots, feeding on their cell sap. Damaged vegetative organs become sticky, curl up, turn yellow and fall off; aphids form large clusters and can cause significant damage to the green mass.
An effective measure against aphids is spraying the bushes with a solution of laundry soap. In addition, various insecticides are used, for example, a 10% solution of karbofos.
Sea buckthorn grass
A small insect whose larvae live in the buds and leaves of sea buckthorn. During the development period, the larva of the honeydew goes through five stages, gradually moving from sea buckthorn buds to the back side of the leaf. It feeds on cell sap by making punctures in the leaves. They begin to turn yellow and eventually dry out.
At the beginning of spring, complex spraying of bushes against pests is carried out with Fufanon, Aktelik, etc.During the season, if necessary, the treatment can be repeated, taking into account the waiting period.
Sea buckthorn moth
This is a small (up to 1.8 cm wingspan) gray butterfly with shiny scales. Moths lay eggs in the root zone of a sea buckthorn bush; at the beginning of summer, caterpillars hatch from them and crawl onto the shoots. At first they feed on the buds, and as they grow, they pull together 5–6 apical leaves into an arachnoid node, in which they live, nibbling the leaf plates. Having completed the cycle, the caterpillars descend into the soil, where they then pupate.
To combat caterpillars during their emergence, bushes are sprayed with Inta-Vir, Iskra and others. If there are a large number of spider nests, the treatment is repeated.
Sorrel bug
It is also called edged edge. The insect is brown in color with a red-brown upper part of the abdomen. The bedbug larva looks like an adult insect. Both mature individuals and larvae feed on the juice of sea buckthorn and other plants, sucking it from leaves, buds, and young shoots, which leads to their withering. In large numbers they can cause serious harm.
In early spring, spraying is carried out against ticks and other pests. For this purpose, the drugs Fufanon, Kemifos, etc. are used.
Moth
Moths are large (up to 6 cm) brown caterpillars with yellow spots. They appear during flowering and remain on the bushes until autumn. They feed on leaves. If there is a large accumulation, they can destroy the entire crown of the sea buckthorn tree.
To combat caterpillars, spraying with various insecticidal preparations is used. Against wintering insects, dig up tree trunk circles before the onset of frost.
Spider mite
The spider mite is a microscopic insect, and it can be visually detected only by the web with which the mite weaves around the leaves or with the help of a magnifying glass. It feeds on the juice of buds and young leaves of sea buckthorn and other garden plants. Lays eggs inside the leaf blade. Can cause serious harm to sea buckthorn.
To combat ticks, it is necessary to use special means - acaricides. They are processed three times with an interval of 2 weeks. In this case, it is possible to destroy not only the tick itself, but also its larvae. Acaricidal drugs include Aktelik, Fitoverm and others.
Gall mite
The insect is worm-shaped, white, up to ¼ mm in size. The larvae are white. Adults overwinter in the buds, and in the spring they begin to suck the juice from them. During the breeding season, mites emerge on the leaves. At the site of egg laying, galls are formed - thickenings up to 0.5 cm in diameter, inside which larvae grow and develop.
For gall mites, sea buckthorn is sprayed with Fitoverm, Karbofos and others. The first is considered the most effective; one treatment is sufficient for 100% tick death.
Plump leaf roller omnivore
Brown-red or brown butterfly with a wingspan of up to 2.5 cm. Caterpillar up to 2 cm, green, with a dark back. On a tree, it rolls one or several leaves into a tube. It feeds on leaves, fruits and flowers. May cause significant harm. It lives not only on sea buckthorn, but also on many other crops.
For prevention, sea buckthorn is sprayed with Karbofos or its analogues. Treatment is done in early spring and immediately after flowering. If necessary, spraying can be repeated at a later date, taking into account the waiting period.
Sea buckthorn fly
The most dangerous pest of sea buckthorn, capable of ruining the entire harvest. It is a flying insect that looks like a fly, 3.5–5 mm in size, with translucent brownish stripes on the wings. Pests lay eggs in green sea buckthorn berries. The hatched larva literally gnaws the fruit from the inside, making passages in the pulp.
To combat sea buckthorn fly, both chemical and folk remedies are used. The latest are:
- Spraying with tansy infusion.
- Covering the tree trunk circle with turf to prevent flies from flying out.
- Mulching or covering the tree trunk circle with film.
The most commonly used chemicals are Iskra, Fitoverm or Inta-Vir.
Measures to protect sea buckthorn from pests
Diseases and pests of sea buckthorn do not appear just like that. Therefore, it is always necessary to remember that the best protection is prevention of their occurrence. To reduce the likelihood of sea buckthorn being affected by pests, it is necessary to carry out sanitary measures in a timely manner (pruning, removing fallen leaves, destroying diseased areas of the bush). It is very important to dig up the tree trunk circle for the winter, where most pests and their larvae overwinter.
When pests appear, protective measures must be started immediately. Some types of insects are capable of producing more than one generation of offspring per season, so their reproduction can occur in geometric progression. The sooner you start pest control, the greater the chance of saving the sea buckthorn harvest, or at least part of it.
Conclusion
Sea buckthorn diseases, like insect pests, can not only destroy the crop, but also kill the plant itself. Do not neglect protective and preventive measures.This will allow you to get a good harvest of sea buckthorn and will preserve the health of not only the tree, but also the gardener himself.
