This is BSD
This is a stressed out pawpaw tree
BSD signs
Good to know, do you think trees can grow out if it? Or chainsaw treatment the only option
could be coincidental but I only noticed it on trees that got heavy pruning(or topworked). Makes me wonder if the large wound allowed BSD to take hold while the tree was under stress and not at full strength. Maybe conditions were good for it last year, loads of rain, heat, and humidity.
Thanks. Do not know BSD. Could excess mulch cause BSD? Have not seen in it other five trees average age 12 years or so.
Anything I can do?
The top portion of My Nc1 is growing irregularly, smaller internodes, delayed leafing out, deformed leaves. I’m wondering what could be: spontaneous mutation?
Bonus photos: a branch from another tree with ambrosia beetle damage.
2 Likes
Old comment of yours, but I plan on getting some seeds of Paw Paw this year down here in the Deep South of MS to start growing out. They taste great, but it seems like most Paw Paw people are from well north of here.
Intrigued to see how things could differ, particular traits and such. One tree in particular I know that makes fruit lives like a bald cypress and is submerged in water for 8 months of the year.
5 Likes
Indeed, was trying to see how frequently it needed water in its location, it’s good now.
Thanks. OK will remove entire tree, take to dump. Can I plant anything else there (not pawpaw) or have to abandon that spot? It’s been well mulched for long time, should be pretty fertile. Sandy soil there so drainage not the issue.
1 Like
If that’s south facing could also be sunscald
1 Like
About the BSD questions, Woody Walker believes the trees CAN recover from BSD, which was a huge surprise to me. Some trees seem able to tolerate it better than others. I don’t know what BSD recovery looks like or how long it takes. He recommends 2 lbs azomite to every tree as a preventative, suggesting it is a nutrient deficiency/ stress issue. I put down 2 lbs of azomite around most of my younger pawpaws in April. Also spray with kelp extract.
I talked with UK and they said BSD is tied to soil drainage issues, which suggests BSD comes in through the roots when the roots are stressed from excess moisture. So, in theory excess mulch could lead to root stress via excessive moisture which could lead to BSD susceptibility.
I used to chainsaw any and all BSD infected trees down, but now I am slower to do that, with the possibility they can recover. I think the main thing to look for is diminished shoot growth and leaf size, which are signs BSD is well underway and lowering the vigor of the tree (through cambium infection). If the tree has those BSD cracks but otherwise seems healthy, it’s likely worth waiting around. We don’t know how contagious it is. I would surmise not very, but is more individualistic based on tree stress.
6 Likes
No, sunscald looks more like open splitting of the bark and not those tell tale fractured looking cracks.
2 Likes
That’s highly unusual, it must be another species and not A. triloba.
1 Like
When pawpaw trees get stressed out @Mysta they exhibit that bronze coloration on the undersides of the leaves. If this happens past about June/July, the trees will stop growing shoots and new leaves for the season.
3 Likes
Would be cool if it was a totally new one too. A new blueberry was just discovered in like alabama. Theres not many botanist in some states
The funny thing is my 2 BSD trees from last year are on a sloped portion of my yard with good drainage.
I’m skeptical to believe they can thrive even if they somewhat recover from it. The ones I’ve cut out have that deep blue staining deep into the heartwood. But all of the new sucker growth from those trees looks healthy. I would think if it started at the roots there would be issues with the suckers?
I have a BSD Carmelo that put out healthy new growth below the vascular damaged upper portion. The upper part put out small 1-2” branches last year while the bottom growth really took off. I trained it upward next to the BSD portion. I was going to cut out the BSD part this spring, but maybe I’ll experiment and see if it tries to push growth. My gut says it mostly aborts that now considering the vigorous new branch and the suckers growing around it.
That tree had very dark 1 year wood last spring and I have a few trees like that this spring which has had me overly paranoid about new BSD infections elsewhere. One is an Al Horn that is a little slow in expanding its flower buds compared to the Chappell and Potomac around it.
I suppose we’ll see soon. If I start getting too much mortality here I’ll probably start converting planting holes to improved seedlings only. At least if those die back I’ll get vigorous suckering.
5 Likes
Nope, it’s native Paw Paw, flowers and makes fruit and everything.
5 Likes
I would think climate plays a role too. Here we have a much longer and hotter growing season so the trees can recover better. If the suckers seem to be doing okay, and main stem seems like its done I would cut it out.
The tree I had bsd looking cracks on is growing fine.
4 Likes
This is definitely worth taking suckers and potentially root grafting scions onto. You might have found a great rootstock!
2 Likes
Thanks Blake! Will remove half the deep mulch and put down 2 lb Azomite. I was trying to re-create deep fertile forest duff with deep layer of wood chips layered with oak leaves but may have overdone it.
2 Likes