Chestnuts are beautiful trees , allow for spook and multi - season pursuit as well as comestible nuts and high - character wood . They can be productive for decades , and typically produce to impressive high .
regrettably , like most industrial plant , they are susceptible to a issue of diseases . And it ’s significant to observe that sealed species may be more readily impact than others .
Even those who have n’t grown their own chestnut before are probably familiar with the notorious blight that wiped out the American specie across the US – though you may not have heard of another serious widespread epidemic that badly bear on the same species hundred before .
Photo by Ignazio Graziosi, University of Kentucky, Bugwood.org, viaCC BY-NC.
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As a abode gardener , it ’s significant to know what to be on the scout for , and what you could do to protect your trees , reject infection , and foreclose further paste . We ’ll deal all of this and more .
Here ’s what ’s in advance :
How to Identify and Manage 5 Common Chestnut Tree Diseases
1. Anthracnose
A common disease inoak treesand other varieties of deciduous hardwoods , chestnuts may be affect by anthracnose as well .
symptom of infection include dry , brown , irregular spots on leafage , curl leafage , and defoliation . Twig dieback may also hap , and buds may die early in the time of year , demonstrate symptoms that resemble frost damage .
Small pimple - like fungous structures may be visible on the underside of affect foliage as well , if you need to get out your magnifying glass .
Caused byApiognomonia quercinafungi , the spores may be go around by the wind and splashing piss in the spring , infecting new growth . Infections are usually the most austere on the lower and innermost limb .
protract periods of wet weather are favourable to the gap of this disease , and of course , blind drunk weather is vulgar in many area in the springtime .
But the most important component is actually temperature . Anthracnose tends to be the most stark when temperature are in the 50 to 55 ° F range , and less terrible in temperatures of 60 ° F and above .
New leaves may uprise back later on in the season , while seriously affected trees may not regain , particularly if a spring infection is followed by a period of drought or other stressors .
This fungus can overwinter in canker sore on the branches , and in fallen leaf . Be sure to complete a thoroughgoing cleanup of the garden to remove all affected plant matter that has fall , and prune off and burn or otherwise dispose of any dead branch and twigs to prevent further spread .
antimycotic agent may be applied at bud break , but this is not typically recommended for rest home gardeners .
2. Chestnut Blight
The American coinage ( Castanea dentata ) is extremely susceptible to chestnut blight , and European chestnut tree ( C. sativa ) and their hybrids are susceptible as well , though importing these tree to the US is rare these days . Some change of oak tree are also susceptible to infection .
There is unfortunately no usable treatment for chestnut tree blight , a fungal disease caused byCryphonectria parasitica . It enters the trees through wounds , often those made by insects , and the transmission recrudesce under the bark .
This disease was creditworthy for wiping out American chestnut across the US in the first half of the 20th one C .
Infected trees exhibit cankers , which may sometimes be confused for evidence of sunscald . Also lie with as chestnut bark disease , infected branch become gird with cankers and die out off speedily .
Affected limb should be remove and destroyed , to forestall further spreadhead .
numb parting will cling to septic trees rather than falling in autumn , and yellowish - brownish fungal fruiting consistency may be visible around canker and fissure in the barque .
canker sore are more manifest on youthful trees , whereas they may remain hidden under the barque for some time in mature specimen .
Though trees killed by this disease will sometimes send out suckers with apparently sizeable growing if the root survive , these will eventually succumb as well .
The fungus can overwinter in the bark , and the spore can become airborne , spread easily to new country .
More dominant in the eastern part of the country historically , cultivator out west once planted European chestnuts without much concern , though this disease is debate widespread throughout the US today .
Choosing blight - tolerant varietiesis recommended for home growers . Taiwanese chestnut ( C. mollissima ) as well as Chinese - American hybrids show serious resistance , and Nipponese varieties ( C. crenata ) show some resistance as well . Be sure to buy trees from reputable agriculturist that are attest loose of disease .
3. Nut Rot
Reportedly because of several unlike species of fungi includingSclerotinia pseudotuberosa , Phomopsis genus Castanea , Gnomoniopsis smithogilvyi , andDiaporthe castaneti , nut buncombe infection are most notable in Europe , Australia , and New Zealand .
A disease of harvested crackpot rather than the trees themselves , rot can cause significant crop red ink .
While the unshelled nuts may appear healthy , the meat within have a different story to tell , appearing discolored , descry , or speckled , and soft , moldy , or rotten . In the pillowcase of serious infection , shield may show signs of mold and rot as well .
expose similar symptom but not cause by a pathogen , when European - Japanese cross are pollinated by Chinese species , they may exhibit intragroup kernel breakdown , a physiologic disorder that causes nut case to decay .
harvest frequently is important , to prevent the onset of nut rot , and cold storage of harvested nuts can avail to prevent or delay onslaught .
The fungal spores can subsist in ball husks ( also refer to as burrs ) for several years , so fear should be select to polish off unharvested nuts and chuck out burrs from the plantation or garden to prevent further spread .
Dispose of burrs that are infected with fungi in the trash , or bite them if this is tolerate in your area . Do not put plant matter that contains disease pathogens on the compost pile .
4. Phytophthora Root Rot
Also referred to as ink disease , root guff is caused byPhytophthorawater cast .
Particularly prevalent in Tree embed in dirt that does not drain well , with onslaught typically occur in former spring , the disease pathogens can also be carried on plants purchased from nurseries .
P. cinnamomican stimulate putrefaction infection in chestnuts throughout the US .
This species was introduced on plant brought by colonists from Europe in the 1700s , and is thought to have decimate American chestnuts from low - altitude forests in the southeast long before the introduction of chestnut blight .
Since that prison term , its mountain range has expand .
P. cambivorainfections of European chestnuts and other types of hardwood Tree are prevalent throughout Europe .
P. cambivoramay also have buncombe infections in American and Nipponese chestnuts , and has been mention as the causal agency of bunk disease in the US and Asia .
Though the infection is centered at the roots and the groundwork of tree , septic chestnuts will show sign of wilt and arm will give out back . Trees can succumb quick , and often conk .
Peeling back the bark of an infected tree would reveal fatal or brown necrotic tissue paper . grower refer to this as the “ flame”because it appears as if their trees have been scorch .
Since the class Oomycetes can remain in the stain for several years , do not replant chestnuts in the same location if one succumbs to root rot . Chinese chestnuts are resistive to this pathogen , but not immune .
5. Sudden Oak Death
Another devastating disease make byPhytophthorawater mould , sudden oak expiry affects oak and their relatives , as well as a motley of other types of trees and understory plant includingrhododendronsandcamellias .
A then - nameless infection was reported to be plague tree in Marin County , California in 1995 , and mortal sudden oak tree demise infections were first note and name in the forests of Oregon in 2001 .
Since then , infected nursery origin has been found in at least 25 states in the US .
Also known as Ramorum disease . P. ramorumfavors wet conditions . temperature above 80 or below 59 ° F slow its growth , but springtime temperature in the upper LX normally hit aright there in this fungus - like organism ’s sweet patch .
canker on the barque of infected Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree often ooze with a ignominious or scarlet liquid , go forth exhibit spot , and twigs pop off back . If you mistrust that your Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree are infected , touch your local agricultural telephone extension specialist .
This disease can often be confused for ailments cause by other pathogen .
The piddle molds can be scatter via infected ground , and wind - blow or splashing rain . Do not replant susceptible trees or shrubs in the same home where another flora has succumbed to this disease .
Chestnuts are under quarantine by the USDA to foreclose further spread of this pathogen , and delivery of seedling and sapling from nurseries outside your state may not be available in certain area .
Be sure to come after any quarantine regulations that are active in your neighborhood to keep potential spread .
Be on the Lookout to Keep Chestnuts Healthy
To keep disease in your woodlet , it ’s important to stay on top of right care practices , and be on the lookout man for house of a trouble .
assure that they are planted in grime with salutary drainage , and prune to better airflow and allow sunlight to diffuse the canopy .
If you ’re planting chestnuts for the first metre , or acquiring more to add to your orchard , look for disease - resistant varieties , and give your business to nurseries that insure disease - free seminal fluid stock and saplings .
The spread of many pathogen is in particular common when condition are rainy and cool in the saltation , and you’re able to sometimes nip an infection in the bud via pruning or thorough garden cleanup at the ending of the season .
It ’s sad but straight that the American chestnut tree has been wipe out more than once in the US thanks to disease , though horticulturists are make effort to bring through this stately tree diagram , and development efforts are underway to produce young hybrids and cultivar that give rise tasty harvests while resisting disease . Thanks in expectant part to these efforts , you’re able to grow your own chestnuts at home today !
And for more selective information about growing your ownnut treesat home , study these guides next :
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Allison Sidhu
