Hi,
My environment is south east ny zone 7b. The containerized pluot (FK, FS) plum (burgundy) are on citation rootstock. When the leaf came up each spring, some portion of the leave are lack of chlorophyll (white), some of the leaves recovered, some weren’t and later wilted/crispy and created irregular shape of leaves (see photo below). Burgundy plum is most severe (50% of leaves), FK/FS are about (30% of leaves)
Did they start like this? Did they start to grow inside or behind a window? That resembles sunburn on leafes not hardened to sunlight enough. But then the leafes start healthy and after they are put into sunlight they start to show those symptoms.
Yes, these container trees were overwinter indoor during winter. They more or less leaf out during indoor.
I am surprised that plum/pluot leaves sunburn so easily. at least, not some type of disease.
Next year, I am planning keep them outdoor, hopefully this won’t be the issue any more.
Hi Dennis
Thank you so much for your help ideas how to treat the leaf diseases on my Sweet Treat tree. Anyway if any of us here can recognize the problem on the pictures with their experience. it would be more simple for me. First I would like trim off all branches and burning… but if I do that it would be no fruits for next couple years. Here I post some newest pictures hopefully I will have another option. Thank you again @DennisD
Hi Vincent,
I agree with you, pruning is perhaps not adviseable. My impression is that there may have been a neighbor using defoliant in the area since the curl appears very sporadic. The new growth on branches beyond the dying foliage indicates a partial hit of some chemical like roundup might have occurred on a windy day, so perhaps not all foliage was as exposed and is surviving. I have never seen anything quite like this, but I wish I could see a closeup pic of the leaf axils buds, both on an affected branch and on the healthy leaf axils further out where the leafs still look ok. If that’s not possible due to the height above ground then perhaps continuing to observe if the dieback is spreading, or is it contained? If I were closer I would like to use a ladder to get a better perspective.
I am going to Lopez Island on Thursday for crabbing, but will not have time to stop by since we need to catch the 9:40 Ferry at Anacortes. If you see that the dieback is stable and not getting worse, then perhaps just give your tree some more nutrients, water and immediate nitrogen rich fertilizer is in order to help it survive.
Dennis
I think maybe a fire blight disease. The problem is I don’t have heavy duty sprayer yet. The tree quite tall. Will find out solution and spray chemicals in Fall season. Thank you so much for taking time to help Dennis.
