Pear fruits crack and rot on the tree: 5 reasons why they turn black on the branches before they ripen

The main reasons why pear fruits begin to rot include: infection with infectious diseases, hail that injured the fruits, damage by the codling moth, excess or lack of moisture, improper care, scab or moniliosis. Depending on the cause, the method of treating the diseased tree is chosen. This problem applies not only to pears, but also to apple and cherry trees. Therefore, it is important to know what to do in such a situation and how to prevent a decrease in yield due to rot.

Fruit rot: control and prevention

If the fruits begin to rot, the main thing is to take action in time so as not to be left without a harvest. Moniliosis is the reason why pears crack. Pear fruits are affected, which subsequently, like the bark, become a source of infection. To solve the problem, it is necessary to fight the fungus. These measures are necessary, otherwise, after cold weather in the spring, fungal spores will fall on the trees, which can subsequently lead to significant crop losses. Actions to take if a pear is infected with a fungus:


  1. It is worth starting to take care of the harvest with the arrival of spring. It is important to clean the area around the tree: remove branches, leaves, fallen pears.

  2. Get rid of the fruits from the previous harvest remaining on the branches.
  3. Thin out the crown.
  4. Do not leave rotten fruits on the site after they fall.
  5. Burn rather than bury affected pears in the ground.

If the variety is predisposed to rotting processes, then it is necessary to regularly treat the wood with preparations. Processing stages:

  1. First. During kidney swelling, use copper preparations.
  2. Second. In the period after flowering and during fruiting, apply the treatment three times. Bordeaux mixture is usually used.
  3. Third. After the harvest is harvested, treat the tree with copper sulfate.

Early spring is a time for a special relationship with wood. It is important to take measures aimed at preventing rotting:


  • regularly prune dry shoots in winter;

  • eliminate mummified fruits;
  • a thinned crown is the key to rapid drying of the tree after precipitation;
  • thin out fruits;
  • treat the garden with medications in a timely manner;
  • periodically collect and remove carrion from the site in the summer;
  • collect and burn mummified fruits in the fall;
  • Harvest carefully, do not store damaged fruits with whole ones.

Fruit rot is very harmful and is superior to scab in terms of fruit damage.

Preventive measures to combat fruit rotting on trees will help preserve the garden. Simple tree care measures will help ensure a rich and healthy harvest.

Summer residents are increasingly noticing that the crop, which gives great hope, begins to rot before reaching technical maturity. The most common cause is fungal diseases, which are widespread everywhere. The primary source is a diseased specimen that has overwintered under or on the plant. Therefore, it is important to know what to do if pear fruits rot on the tree. Timely measures will save the tree and the harvest.

Varieties resistant to moniliosis

In places with a temperate climate, especially with cold and damp springs, this disease is a frequent visitor to the plots. In such areas, experts recommend selecting pear varieties that are immune to fruit rot. This:

  • "Aurora";
  • “take winter michurina”;
  • "October";
  • "Saint Germain";
  • "conference";
  • “Krasnodar summer”;
  • "trembita";
  • "cheremshina";
  • "autumn dream";
  • "roksolana";
  • "curé"
  • "Moldavian early";
  • "Augustin";
  • "Summer Sergeeva"

Possible causes of rotting pears

Novice gardeners do not understand why crops crack and then rot. This is all due to diseases affecting the plant. Most often they occur:

  • If the diseased specimen overwintered in the tree trunk or on the plant.
  • Trees can become infected through cracks in overripe pears. They can be caused by scab or insect punctures. Spores enter through cracks, and decay processes begin inside, affecting the entire pear.
  • In hot and humid summers, spores form on mummified pears, which are carried to nearby plantings by wind and insects. Thus, in a short time, all fruit crops can become infected with the disease.

Scab on fruits

If the fruits turn black, but remain edible and do not lose their taste, then the reason is scab. A sure sign is the appearance of an olive-colored coating on the foliage, which turns brown over time.

As they ripen, the skin of the fruit becomes covered with numerous dots, which spoil their presentation, but inside they remain strong.

Moniliosis or fruit rot

New varieties of pears are famous for their good keeping quality and long shelf life. But if the disease affects the plant, the fruits will rot faster than they have time to ripen. The main reason is a microscopic fungus that can penetrate inside the pear through a small scratch. Moniliosis can affect pears and other fruit plants.

Fungal spores are easily spread by wind and insects. It develops best in warmth and moisture. Direct sunlight is the enemy of the disease. Therefore, moniliosis successfully develops in a thickened crown. The disease affects only mature specimens. The disease does not develop on the tree trunk. Therefore, if black spots appear on the fruits, they must be removed and destroyed immediately.

Old trees

Old trees that have exhausted their strength can cause pears to rot. The process begins to happen from the tail, when they are still hanging on the tree. When technical maturity is reached, the middle will be rotten.

  1. If the affected pears are not removed in time, the rot will penetrate into healthy fruits through cracks on the surface.
  2. It is important to promptly remove specimens that have reached technical maturity, since overripe fruits burst, thereby giving fungal spores a chance to penetrate inside. And as a result, after a short time, the pears rot inside and then wither.

codling moths

They are among the most active pests. Their food is fruit seeds. In the process of eating, the insect infects the pears with caterpillars. The insect moves inside the pulp, thereby causing cracking of the fruit, through which infection enters. The pear becomes sick, rots and changes color. As a result of the disease, dark specimens become unsuitable for food.

Weevils

Pests live on branches. These small insects damage:

If the fruits turn black, the infection may be caused by a weevil.

Harvest conservation measures

Control measures can be different, everyone can choose the most suitable option for themselves.

Chemical treatment

The plant is treated a month before technical maturity. When the fruits are ripe and begin to rot, processing is prohibited. Suitable drugs:

If time is missed and rot is noticed during ripening, then it can be treated with the drug “Fitosporin”. They are treated weekly until the harvest is complete.

At the first signs of illness, Zircon will help. Processing begins as soon as the first rotten specimen is discovered. This will help save healthy fruits from damage.

Folk remedies

At an early age, simple means that do not harm the environment will help the plant cope with rot:

  1. If the fruits begin to dry out and rot from the inside, then citric acid (40 g) and iron sulfate (25 g) diluted in water (10 l) will help. The prepared solution is stored for no more than 2 weeks. Spray the pear when rot is detected.
  2. A solution of soap (50 g), water (9 l) and ash (500 g) will help you cope with pests.
  3. A good remedy against rot is colloidal sulfur.

If the disease has become widespread, it is better to use chemicals.

Proper care

If the fruits dry out and rot, then the main reason lies in illiterate care and non-compliance with basic rules. If the tree is old and the cause of rot is only this, then the crop is harvested in an unripe form. Then they lay it out in the basement on a layer of newspaper. This event will help the fruits ripen and not be affected by rot.

If moniliosis develops on a plant, then it is necessary to carry out the following in the autumn:

  • Sanitary pruning. Remove all branches, fruits, and leaves affected by the disease.
  • The carrion is collected and buried in the ground. Minimum depth 1.5 meters.
  • Rotten specimens should not be thrown into the compost pit. The bacteria have good survival rate and will return to the plant at the first feeding.

Diseases are spread by parasitic pests. They carry spores and infect fruits from the inside. To eliminate the disease, regularly scheduled treatment of plantings with the necessary preparations is carried out. A healthy tree resists infections more easily, so proper and timely feeding will help the tree to be strong. Weeds should be removed regularly. To reduce the number of weedings, the area around the trunk is mulched.

Helper plants

To protect against pests, it is recommended to plant around the pear:

  • Marigold. They repel many pests with their smell. Also, decoctions and infusions are prepared from the flowers, which are used to treat the plant against rot.
  • Codling moths avoid trees near which wormwood and elderberry grow.
  • Mint.
  • Sagebrush.
  • Thyme.

Properly distributed repellent plants will help improve the health of plantings. Using them on your site in combination with preventive measures, you will be able to achieve a high yield of healthy fruits.

Mistakes of gardeners and prevention of garden rot

Common mistakes:

  1. The fallen carrion is not removed. It is necessary to collect and destroy fallen and infected fruits daily. They are a source of disease that is easily transmitted by pests.
  2. The entire harvest is not harvested. Overripe fruits remaining on the branches are easily infected with fungus and are a source of disease, which will spread to the new crop next year. Therefore, it is necessary to remove ripe fruits on time.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=YZcbaIkfLAw

For prevention, it is necessary to protect the plant from pests and monitor the condition of the crown, avoiding its thickening.


In August we all look forward to the pear harvest. Self-grown fruits are juicier, softer and sweeter than store-bought ones. But already at the ripening stage, pears can suddenly begin to rot right on the tree. What to do and how to save the harvest? We find the answer in one of the reference books in our country library (author: Galina Osipova).

The reason why pears rot on the tree

The fruits are affected by fruit rot, which is caused by a fungus.

What to do?

For prevention purposes, you can use any copper-containing drug (hom, oxychom, Bordeaux mixture, copper sulfate, polychome). Spray the trees 30 days before harvesting the fruits. When the pears have already begun to ripen and rot, such spraying cannot be carried out.

If time is lost and the fruits begin to rot as they ripen, it is recommended to use the biological product “Fitosporin”. Spraying is carried out every week until the entire crop is harvested.

You can replace “Fitosporin” with a solution of 5 percent iodine (10 ml dissolved in 10 liters of water). After 3 days, spraying is repeated.

The drug “Zircon” can also save pears from fruit rot. Trees are sprayed with it as soon as the first rotten fruit is discovered. This will help protect other fruits from infection.

If last year the pears were also very rotten, you should not wait for the disease to manifest itself in the new season. It is better to spray the plants at the stage of ovary formation, and repeat the treatment after another 14-20 days. Then you will be able to grow healthy fruits.

Varieties resistant to moniliosis

In places with a temperate climate, especially with cold and damp springs, this disease is a frequent visitor to the plots. In such areas, experts recommend selecting pear varieties that are immune to fruit rot. This:

  • "Aurora";
  • “take winter michurina”;
  • "October";
  • "Saint Germain";
  • "conference";
  • “Krasnodar summer”;
  • "trembita";
  • "cheremshina";
  • "autumn dream";
  • "roksolana";
  • "curé"
  • "Moldavian early";
  • "Augustin";
  • "Summer Sergeeva"

What other problems could there be?

Arm yourself with knowledge (just in case).

In August, the pear leaves became covered with black spots . Causes: scab or iron deficiency.

Scab itself is not so insidious. Because of it, black spots may appear on leaves and fruits, which will slightly reduce their presentation. However, the fruits remain edible and just as tasty. The fight against scab usually begins in the spring. Three sprayings are carried out per season:

  • Young leaves are sprayed with Skor or Vectra. Preparations containing copper are also used (they have already been listed in this article). Prepare a 0.1 percent solution, for which 1 teaspoon of the product is diluted in 5 liters of water. The drug “Zircon” is also considered effective against scab on pears.
  • Spraying is carried out again when the ovaries have formed.
  • The pears are sprayed for the last time after harvesting the fruits.

If there is a lack of iron, plants are sprayed with a 0.1 percent solution of iron sulfate, for which 2 teaspoons of the product are diluted in 10 liters of water. And for the purpose of prevention in the spring and summer, even at the stage of formation of ovaries, it is recommended to spray pears with the preparations “Uniflor-micro” and “Florist”. They will enrich the plants with microelements.

Tubercles have appeared on the pear leaves . Pests live in them. In this case, you can use the preparations “Iskra-bio” or “Fitoverm”.

Black cancer and cytosporosis: signs and treatment

Black cancer, as well as cytosporosis, affects only the bark of pear trees.

These two diseases differ in external signs, but are treated with the same methods. It is still not known for certain why these infections affect certain trees, since according to statistics, even very strong and developed specimens can be sick. Most likely, the causes of infection are injury to the bark during gardening.

Black cancer manifests itself as small wounds on the bark, which increase in size over time, and their borders are covered with brown spots blurred in shape. Next, black cancer begins to spread to leaf blades, fruits and even flowers, leading to their gradual death.

Cytosporosis differs from black cancer in the shape of the wounds, which look like small bulges on the bark of a pear, as well as in the redness of the areas of the bark around them. Over time, the disease spreads to the leaves and ovaries, which causes their blackening and death.

Cancer and cytosporosis on pear trees can be completely cured only by removing the affected branches, shoots and fruits. If this requires removing the bark from the trunk, you should not hesitate, since the pear can restore it when certain conditions are created. To rid a tree of the disease, it is recommended to clean the outer shells of the trunk and leaves on which the infection is found, treat these places with a solution of copper sulfate, and then cover them with mullein mixed with clay.

Pears from our garden: photos

These are the pears we managed to grow in 2015

Pear is a fragrant fruit with tasty juicy pulp. Every garden is incomplete without a pear tree.

The fruits are consumed fresh, and also prepared compotes, jams, confitures and juice. The advantage of the fruits is that they are stored for a long time.

Every gardener strives to get a good harvest. But it happens that the fruits begin to rot before they have time to ripen on the tree . What are the reasons and how to save the fruits?

Why do pears rot and crack on tree branches?

Everyone has noticed rotten pear fruits on a tree; old breeding varieties are mainly susceptible to this phenomenon. Since their ancestry is directly related to the wild pear.

It happens that there is only a small spot on the skin, but inside all the pulp is brown and very soft . This indicates the insidiousness of the fungus, which is ready to destroy not only the appearance, but also the taste.

Fruit rot on apple and pear trees:

On the infected fruit, sporulation of the fungus appears, on which conidia are formed. They are spread by wind, rain and insects.

As a result, complete infection of the remaining fruits occurs. Rotting of a pear begins from the tail and by the time it is fully ripe the fruit can rot completely.


The cause of pear rotting directly on the tree is a fungal disease - fruit rot.

The problem must be solved radically, that is, the old tree will have to be removed .

There is another option to save the harvest. Pick pears when they are unripe. Large and firm green pears are laid out in the shade, and after a few days you can enjoy the fragrant, sweet fruits.

As for the new selection varieties, they ripen on the tree. Stored for a long time in a cool place. The cause of rotting is a fungus.

The fight against the disease is necessary immediately. Remove infected pears away from healthy ones. Fruits infected with moniliosis should not be buried in the ground or stored in a compost pit.

Why? This is due to the fact that fungal spores tolerate cold well , so they can spread to other trees in the spring. And massive damage threatens the lack of harvest.

Moniliosis on fruit trees:

Possible diseases

Every fruit tree, including the pear, has a number of potential diseases and various pests that can cause more harm to the plant than just cracking on the fruit. Then the pears crack and rot throughout the tree. Factors such as location and weather will play a key role in causing the problems your tree may encounter down the road. But there are several natural diseases that can attack a healthy tree, also causing cracks in the fruit. Here are the main ones:

Scab

This disease causes spots on young leaves: velvety and olive green turn black, after which they wither, burst and fall off. Characteristic spots also appear on the fruit, they become deformed, crack and also fall to the ground. That is, if you notice cracks on the pear fruits, pay attention to the leaves. Perhaps the amount of moisture has nothing to do with it.

Ways to combat the disease:

  • Bonide Citrus – spray for fruit trees (spray for nuts will also work).
  • Sarenad Power is a universal remedy for most orchard diseases. Well suited as a prophylactic.
  • Bonide copper solution is a fungicidal spray, the most effective element in the fight against pear disease.

Fruit rot

The first symptoms appear on the leaves in the form of small purple spots. They enlarge in the affected area, sometimes with purple edges and a brown center. If the infection is severe, the leaves may fall off. This is followed by a fruit infection that affects both young and mature fruits. The more damage there is to the fruit (in our case, cracks), the faster it mummifies and remains attached to the branch, continuing to disperse the infection.

If a pear cracks and rots on a branch, what should you do in this case? Here are ways to combat the disease:

  • First, remove all diseased fruits from the tree.
  • Sarenad Power is a universal remedy that fights the disease well.

Where does fruit rot come from on trees?

Moniliosis fungus can enter the fruit through damage to the skin. It is easy to damage the fruit. This can be done by insects, hail, rain, wind.

Infection is also possible due to close contact with a fetus infected with the fungus. Infected fruits may remain hanging from last year, spreading the infection to the new crop.

The crown of a tree can also spread the disease , so all affected leaves, branches, and fruits must be removed during sanitary pruning.


The fungus can get to the pear with the help of insects, hail, rain and wind

Infected fruits that are not removed after harvest darken, dry out, and natural mummification occurs. It is advisable to cut these fruits along with the branches on which they hang.

The fungus can remain on the tree bark for a long time, and over time this place darkens. Therefore, diseased branches are pruned, including tens of centimeters of healthy wood. All dried shoots are cut back to a place with healthy wood.

The disease is spread by fungal spores by the wind and insects that love to feast on the pulp of the sweet fruit. Favorable conditions for the development of moniliosis are warmth and high humidity.

Signs of fruit rot on trees:

  1. Symptoms of fungus may begin to appear in the spring.
  1. Infection can also occur during fruit ripening. Since during this period the skin becomes softer, and fungal spores can penetrate into it. As a result, mold begins to develop, which spreads to the entire fruit.
  1. At the site of infection, sporulation of the fungus occurs; in appearance, it has a round outline with small light inclusions in the form of circles. The fungus spreads quickly, affecting not only the skin, but also the flesh.
  1. Infection can occur not only through insect transmission, but also through close contact with an infected fruit.
  1. Infected fruits fall off in strong winds, but they can remain firmly attached to the stalk; over time, they dry out and remain hanging on the tree. They harden, that is, they become mummified and turn black and blue. The fungus is not afraid of the cold, so it can easily overwinter in fruits, branches and shoots.
  1. Favorable conditions for the emergence of fungal spores are darkness, low temperatures and humid air.


Signs of fruit rot are sporulation of the fungus, which looks round in shape with small light spots in the form of circles

What to do if the fruit rots, how to deal with moniliosis?

Caring for future harvests begins in spring . As soon as the snow melts, it is necessary to inspect the tree and the area near it. Collect all last year's foliage and branches, and most importantly, fallen fruits.

If last year's fruits are hanging on the tree, they must be removed , as they may be infected with fungal spores. He loves a thick crown and dried branches that do not produce a harvest.

Therefore, in order to prevent moniliosis from multiplying, it is necessary to thin out the crown and cut off dried and weak branches.

You may be interested in the following publications:

If the pear variety is prone to rot, be sure to treat the tree with preparations as a preventive measure :

  1. The first treatment must be done during the period of bud swelling. To do this, use products containing copper. They will help protect the tree from moniliosis. Bordeaux mixture can be used as a chemical preparation.
  1. The second treatment with drugs after the pear blossoms.
  1. During the fruiting period, carry out the procedure several times.
  1. The last fungicidal treatment is carried out after harvesting. To do this, use copper sulfate, which must be used to thoroughly treat the crown, trunk of the pear and the circle around the trunk.


Be sure to treat the tree with Bordeaux mixture and copper sulfate as a preventative measure.

At high air humidity, all varieties of pears must be treated with preparations to prevent the spread of the fungus.

It is advisable to use organic fungicides, such as Bordeaux mixture, copper oxychloride . Treatment can be carried out during flowering and after it.

Moniliosis affects only fruits , but fungal spores can be stored on foliage, crown, and ground. As soon as you notice rotten pears on the tree, immediately remove them from the branches so that the infection does not spread further.

Collect fallen rotten fruits, as they also carry the fungus.

Use of fungicides

It is recommended to carry out the first treatment in the form of blue spraying during the swelling phase of pear buds. At this time, a 3% Bordeaux mixture is used.

In order to protect the pear from scab, which contributes to infection with moniliosis, it is advisable to carry out the second treatment during the pinking phase of the buds. At this time, you can use such drugs as Abiga-Pik, Horus, Skor, Fitolavin, Fitosporin-M, Alirin-B, Gamair. The last two drugs are biological, made from the bacteria Bacillus subtilis, they are safe for humans and nature. Moreover, they can be combined with microfertilizers that help increase the resistance of plants, including trees, to infections, and some insecticides, for example, Fitoverm.

The next treatment should be carried out after the pear blossoms. During the period of fruit growth and development, several more sprayings can be carried out, taking into account the period of protective action and the waiting period.

In addition to those officially recommended against fruit rot, iodine solution and Pharmaiod can be effective. It is recommended to take 10 ml of alcohol solution per 10 liters of water. It is recommended to dilute the drug Farmayod according to the following scheme: in the “green cone” and “pink bud” phases at a concentration of 5 ml per 10 liters of water. Then, during the periods of setting, filling and ripening of pear fruits and after the leaves fall, dissolve 10 ml of the drug in 10 liters of water.

Regarding the choice of drugs, remember that in August you cannot use conventional chemical fungicides. But you can only use biological products; to prevent the accumulation of toxic substances in fruits.

Farmayod also has moderate toxicity! Therefore, the last spraying of vegetating pear trees should be carried out at least two weeks before the expected date of fruit consumption.

In addition to the listed measures, it is also necessary to carry out agrotechnical measures, including timely harvesting of pear fruits, disinfection of fruit containers and premises. In the latter cases, you can also use a 1% solution of Farmayod.

Prevention of fruit rotting

It is necessary to take care of the tree throughout the year, but special attention should be paid in early spring :

  1. Pruning dried shoots at the end of winter, before the buds swell . Trim dead and broken branches, ending at the healthy part. At this time, it is necessary to collect and destroy all last year's fallen leaves remaining on the branches.
  1. Collect all the mummified fruits , they pose a danger to the new harvest.
  1. Thinning the crown is necessary so that trees dry out faster after rain. Thanks to this, the tree’s chances of contracting moniliosis are reduced several times.
  1. Fruit thinning . If the harvest is good, leave only large fruits.
  1. When harvesting, remove the fruits carefully so as not to damage the branches. Before storing the pear, inspect each fruit. Infected pears should not remain on the tree or ground but must be destroyed.
  1. Treating wood with organic fungicides . When the buds begin to swell, it is advisable to treat the tree with Bordeaux mixture. It is necessary to process not only the tree, but also the area near the tree trunk. Treatment should also be carried out after flowering with fungicidal preparations that will protect the fruits. Repeat the procedure several times, until the fruits ripen and after harvesting.


Thinning the crown and fruits of a pear tree and treating it with fungicides will help protect the crop.

Remember that timely control of the fungus will preserve the harvest . Moniliosis affects fruits with seeds and stones, so at the first signs of the disease it is worth starting an active fight against the problem.

Take proper care of the tree , and it will definitely thank you with a rich harvest.

Adviсe

Tips from experienced gardeners to help protect pears from fungus:

  • The correct choice of planting location is away from other trees and houses so that the pears receive enough light.
  • Timely removal of all plant debris from the tree. They need to be burned. It is strictly forbidden to use wood residues to make compost.
  • Fungus often occurs after prolonged rains. Therefore, in conditions of high moisture, it is necessary to regularly inspect plants in order to identify pathology in time.

To ensure that the time spent growing fruit is spent profitably, and the result is a bountiful, tasty harvest, the garden must be carefully monitored. It is important not only to promptly treat existing diseases, but also to regularly engage in prevention, which consists of proper care.

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