Under certain conditions, loquats can be affected by fungal diseases. You can protect your shrubs by maintaining proper care. In the event of illness, quick action is required.
How can I combat fungal infestation on loquats?
To combat fungal infestation of loquats, you should remove infected parts of the plant, use fungicides based on copper or triforin and use natural tonics such as field horsetail extract or garlic solution as prevention.
The emergence of fungal diseases
Fungal spores spread preferentially in windy and rainy weather. They need warm temperatures for growth. Such climatic conditions prevail in summer in locations that are not exposed to direct sun.
The spores prefer to colonize sick or weakened plants, because here they find numerous opportunities to grow. Damage to the bark, leaves or buds provides an ideal breeding ground for the spores. Whether a shrub is affected by a fungal disease also depends on the variety. Older varieties have often developed a defense system against the diseases and are less susceptible than new varieties.
These factors promote fungal infestation:
- Lack of light
- plants too dense
- Nutrient deficiency due to incorrect fertilization
Frequent fungal infestation due to apple scab and leaf browning
In apple scab, the fungal spores cause a greenish to grayish discoloration of the leaves, which appears in the form of spots. This fungal disease spreads rapidly because the spores are formed asexually. Severe fungal infestation causes the tissue of the leaf cells to die. The spores spread in rainy and windy weather.
Leaf browning also causes mottled discoloration on the leaves. The fungal infection causes reddish or black spots. This disease does not cause leaf death. Fallen leaves pose a higher risk of infection as the spores feel particularly comfortable and settle here.
Control measures
Cut off the infected parts of the plant. To prevent the spores from spreading further, do not dispose of the remains in the compost. A copper-containing fungicide (€16.00 at Amazon) eliminates possible spore residues on the plants. This remedy is effective for leaf brown diseases. You can combat apple scab with a triforin-based spray solution.
Strengthen your loquat with a field horsetail extract, which you add to the irrigation water. Alternatively, nettle manure or a mixture of garlic cloves are suitable. You can spray the solutions directly onto the infected leaves using a spray bottle. The nettle manure inhibits the fungal spores in the event of an infestation, while regular spraying with garlic in spring has a preventive effect.
