Gooseberry diseasesandcurrant diseasesevery year create huge problems in the cultivation of these shrubs in allotment gardens and home gardens. All currant bushes can be attacked by several differentcurrant leaf diseases , and powdery mildew is also a threat for blackcurrant and gooseberry. See descriptions and photos on how to recognizegooseberry and currant diseasesand learn how to combat these diseases.
Anthracnose, currant leaves - one of the most common diseases of gooseberries and currants
In gooseberry and currant crops, leaf diseases are particularly dangerousIf infected early, they can lead to rapid leaf loss, which in turn translates into a poorer quality of the crop in the current year, and a significant reduction in the yield in the following year. In order to prevent severe infection by leaf diseases, it is worth learning to recognize their symptoms in order to react as quickly as possible to the emerging lesions.
Leaf anthracnose
This disease affects bothgooseberry and currant bushes , as well as agrest currant. There are tiny (1 to 2 mm in diameter) spots of brown color on the leaves (photo above). In the case of a strong infestation, the changes will also be visible on the fruit and non-lignified shoots (photo below).
The main source of infection is the leaves that fell from the previous season. They develop spores of the fungus, which attack the newly produced leaves already in early spring.Therefore, the basic treatment limiting the development of thisgooseberry and currant diseaseis the removal of fallen leaves. It is also worth taking care that the bushes are not overly thickened, and also avoid nitrogen over-fertilization.
Spots on gooseberry leaves and fruits are most likely symptoms of anthracnosis
Fig. pixabay.com
Symptoms of leaf fall intensify before flowering and immediately after harvesting. Currant anthracnose is usually controlled by spraying. We use a spray with garlic extract or fungicides. Before flowering, use Dithane NeoTec 75 WG, Score 250 EC, Topsin M 500 SC, and after harvesting - Dithane Neo Tec 75 WG, Score 250 EC, Polyram 70 WG, Miedzian 50 WP.
White spotty currant leaves
In the case of thiscurrant diseasefrom mid-May, irregular spots with a diameter of 1 to 5 mm are noticeable on the leaves of the shrubs, initially small, brown, with time discoloring in parts in the middle in gray and white.At the time of the onset of symptoms, the youngest leaves within the spots show dark, tiny points - clusters of fungal spores. The number of leaf spots is increasing rapidly.
As with anthracnose, the removal of fallen leaves is essential. Against thiscurrant leaf diseasethe same sprays are used as for the above-mentioned anthracnose.
White currant rust - the lower side of the currant leaf
White currant rust
Another commoncurrant diseaseIt is most common on black currants. Currant and agrest are also sensitive to it. Symptoms ofwhite currant rustare visible from June in the form of yellow discoloration, which over time turns into brown spots, and yellow-brown or black clusters of spores of the fungus appear on the underside of the leaves.
White currant rust - fungus on pine shoots
The pathogen has two hosts - currant and white pine (more rarely other 5-needle pines). Although it can also spread without pine trees. To prevent the spread of thiscurrant disease , remove the fallen currant leaves on which the fungus hibernates. Pine shoots showing signs of infection should also be cut (orange-yellow blister-like spore clusters are visible on the shoots). In pine trees, paint the cut wounds with a white emulsion paint with the addition of a fungicide, eg Score 250 EC. However, it is best to give up the cultivation of 5-needle pines in the company of currant cultivation.Spray the currants before flowering, after flowering and after harvesting. The post-harvest treatment will also be effective against leaf fall and currant white spot. We can use fungicides: Dithane Neo Tec 75 WG, Polyram 75 WG, Score 250 EC, Miedzian 50 WP.It is also helpful to grow mugwort in the vicinity of currants or to spray it with preparations prepared from this plant.
American powdery mildew
This disease is mainly caused by gooseberries and black currants, as well as currant agrest that come from these plants. You can then see a powdery white coating on the leaves and unlignified shoots. Leaf development is slowed down and deformed. In gooseberries, symptoms in the form of a white and then brown bloom are also visible on the fruit. If the American gooseberry mildew also attacks the fruit - it will not be fit for consumption.
American gooseberry mildew - infected fruit
Infection of plant buds is also very harmful. Already in spring, as the buds develop, you can see the mycelium covering them. Warm and dry summers favor the development of the disease.
In order to effectivelyfight powdery mildewyou need to regularly inspect the plants and cut out the affected shoots from early spring.If the infestation is high, spray the bushes after flowering and fruit harvest with a preparation prepared by yourself from the field horsetail. Among the plant protection products against thisgooseberry and currant disease , Topas 100 EC, Magnicur Gold and Topsin M 500 SC are recommended.
