Apple Scab Disease
Apple scab disease affects apple and crabapple trees. It is an infection of the leaves that leads to the tree being unable to produce apples. Apple scab disease is particularly prevalent in the northeast United States. Does this Spark an idea?
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Symptoms
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One of the first signs of apple scab disease is discoloration in the underside of the tree's leaves. The infection looks like small, brown, velvety bits that can appear on the underside and top of the leaves. The spots eventually turn into larger scab-like growths.
How It Spreads
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Infected leaves that fall to the ground will maintain the scab apple fungus during even the most brutal of winters; the disease will spread again in the spring. Wet weather (mostly during spring) serves as a breeding ground for the disease.
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Trees It Can Infect
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The disease infects crabapple, hawthorn, mountain ash and firethorn trees. Venturia, another closely related fungus, causees similar symptoms on European and Japanese pear trees as well.
How It Works
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In the fall, the fungus starts to grow on infected leaves that have fallen to the ground. The fungus grows throughout the winter and begins to germinate during spring rains. As spores produce and spread in the spring, the tree and any leaves surrounding it can become infected.
Prevention
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The easiest way to help prevent apple scab disease is to rake all fallen leaves away from the base of the tree and remove them. A variety of fungicides also help prevent the disease from forming.
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