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IPM Scouting in Stone Fruits

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Phytophthora root and crown rot - Phytophthora spp.
IPM scouting in stone fruits > phytophthora root and crown rot
This rot is common in low areas of cherry and peach orchards with poor soil drainage and throughout orchards with clay soil that restricts drainage. The disease is most likely to appear after the trees come into production. Affected trees exhibit poor terminal growth, sparse and chlorotic foliage, early senescence and progressive decline over several seasons. A few trees collapse and die soon after budbreak.

For diagnosis, the outer bark of the crown and roots should be removed. Necrotic tissue will be observed on the roots and crown below the soil line.
Decline of cherry trees Mahaleb rootstock
Decline of Montmorency cherry trees from phytophthora root rot. Mahaleb rootstock with phytophthora root rot.
Additional information
Images on this page provided by Alan L. Jones.

This information was developed from A Pocket Guide for IPM Scouting in Stone Fruits by David Epstein, Larry J. Gut, Alan L. Jones and Kimberly Maxson-Stein. Purchase this in a pocket-sized guide for reference in the orchard from MSU Extension (publication E-2840).
The MSU IPM Program maintains this site as an access point to pest management information at MSU. The IPM Program is administered within the Department of Entomology, fueled by research from the Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station, delivered to citizens through MSU Extension, and proud to be a part of Project GREEEN.
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Updated 7/24/07