What is this infection and what can I do about it. It showed up last year and I have it again this year. It sort of looks like CAR but it isn’t on the leaves.
Somebody must know what this is.
This disease of pears is not seen in my area at this time.
It’s possible it’s quince rust at first glance. The pictures are difficult to see since small fruitlets are hard to photograph. I’m suspicious it could be Pacific Coast pear rust.
http://blogs.cornell.edu/plantpathhvl/apple-diseases/rust-diseases/
The right fungicide will help you to control it but fungicides to control Pacific Coast pear rust are not available to homeowners.
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/fruits/fegen/controlling-quince-rust.htm
This will give you additional data
http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/gardens-gardening/your-garden/help-for-the-home-gardener/advice-tips-resources/pests-and-problems/diseases/rusts/cedar-quince-rust.aspx.
My understanding is cedar and pears are alternate hosts keeping the disease going. Early in the spring the rust reinfected the pears and with this type of rust you lose your entire pear crop in some cases as a result.
I’m hopeful it’s not Pacific Coast pear rust or pear trellis rust but it does look a lot like them.
http://extension.oregonstate.edu/benton/sites/default/files/12_pacific_coast_pear_rust.pdf
We do have a leaf rust showing up in my orchard which is new which fortunately does not damage fruit. I think the rusts are drastically increasing right now and certainly we will all see more of them.
Clarkinks, Thank you for the reply. That is definitely Quince rust. The links have pictures exactly like I see on the pear and the cedar trees. Previously I thought the cedars had a bad/odd case of CAR I hope to convince my neighbor to cut them down.
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I found quince rust very difficult to deal with on my quince and medlars; its not as bad on pears and apples for me but it looks like you got it pretty bad. Spray myclobutanil at petal fall next year if you can’t get the tree removed.
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If you remove the cedars it will help considerably and with a fungicide may eliminate the disease. Stay on top of it. Some years i just control diseases and the following year I may not see them again or they may be back with a vengeance.