White, yellow, brown, black, red, and even purple - what kind of spots can you not find on gooseberry bushes? They can be small, the size of a pea, or cover the entire leaf blade. Spots signal the presence of diseases or insects that can destroy the entire harvest and infect nearby crops. The article will explain why gooseberry leaves curl and spots appear, and how to identify diseases by their signs.
Table of contents
Gooseberry Leaf Diseases
Gooseberries get sick for various reasons. Some plants lack light and warmth, others suffer from waterlogging or a lack of nutrients in the soil. Sometimes the symptoms of a disease are noticeable immediately, sometimes they are difficult to see with the naked eye.
Spots on Leaves
Spots are a sign of many diseases. For example, when affected by anthracnose, brownish-brown spots about 1 cm in diameter appear on the leaves, which increase in size over time. The spots merge with each other, the leaves dry out and soon fall off.
The causative agent of anthracnose is an ascomycete fungus that actively spreads in hot and humid weather. The first signs of anthracnose are observed at the end of the flowering phase, approximately in May - June. The disease also occurs due to improper care: due to excessive watering, an excess or deficiency of mineral and organic substances.
Spots on the leaves are also a sign of septoria, or white spot. The lesions are grey-white in color and have a clear outline. If measures are not taken to treat the gooseberry, the leaves curl up and fall off. Diseased branches show weak growth, the commercial quality and taste of the gooseberries deteriorate. Meanwhile, small black dots form on the spots. The development of white spot is facilitated by warm weather, so the disease is more common in southern European countries. Septoria also occurs due to weak variety immunity and thickened plantings.
Leaf Curling and Curliness
Why do leaves curl up? A common cause of this is powdery mildew. This common disease affects both young and old shrubs. At the beginning of the infection, all parts of the plant are covered with a white coating, which over time becomes dark brown.
The leaves become brittle and curl, and the berries stop growing and fall off. If measures are not taken, the gooseberry will die. The spores of the fungi - the causative agents of powdery mildew - are easily carried by wind or insects; they overwinter on plant debris and are resistant to heat. The causes of infection are unhealthy seedlings, dirty garden tools, and diseased plants nearby.
Interesting! Leaves curl as a result of damage by spider mites or gooseberry shoot aphids. The plates become deformed, dry out, and curl up. Insect pests overwinter in the soil and become active in spring when warm weather sets in. The insects are about 0.2 mm long - to detect their clusters, it is recommended to regularly inspect the leaves from the inside and outside.
Leaf curliness is a sign of reversion (gooseberry vein banding virus). This is a viral disease and cannot be treated. The pathogens are transmitted by mites and live on plant cuttings. When reversion is detected, infected shrubs are removed from the site and burned, and the remaining plants are disinfected with a Bordeaux mixture solution.
Bronze Tint
A bronze tint on the leaves appears due to goblet rust - a fungal disease. Dark spots with an orange tint appear on the plates, and yellow pads of spores are visible.
Fungal spores are spread by winds and rain; the disease occurs due to weeds and thickened plantings. Sharp changes in weather and high humidity contribute to the rapid spread of the disease. Goblet rust can destroy up to 80% of the crop, so it is important to detect its symptoms in time and begin treatment of the shrubs.
Black Dots and Coating
Black dots appear due to scab. The disease is common in many European regions and affects shrubs of any age. It appears due to the close occurrence of groundwater, growing bushes in lowlands, and an excess of nitrogen-containing fertilizers. First, a light, loose coating appears on the leaves, followed by black dots - fungal fruiting bodies. The spots expand, the leaves fall off. If a dense brown film has formed, it means the disease is progressing and it becomes more difficult to save the gooseberry with each passing day.
Black coating occurs due to *Podosphaera mors-uvae* - an ascomycete fungus, the causative agent of American powdery mildew. Along with the leaves, the ends of the shoots and fruits blacken and dry out. Mature plants are particularly affected. Soil with an excess of nitrogen-containing fertilizers creates favorable conditions for the spread of the disease.
Purple and Red Leaves
Leaves acquire a purple hue not due to disease, but due to a lack of mineral substances - phosphorus and potassium. The lower parts of the shoots and petioles change color and stop growing. To eliminate the deficiency, complex mineral fertilizers are applied. Along with this, monitor watering, regularly loosen and mulch the soil.
In addition to purple color, red also appears on the bushes. Gooseberry leaves turn red due to a lack of iron or boron. The problem is solved by applying fertilizer: 20 g of iron sulfate is diluted in 10 liters of water. The plants are sprayed with the solution, and after 3 - 5 days the redness subsides.
Yellow Leaves
Yellow leaves are a signal of the occurrence of mosaic virus. Yellow patterns appear on the affected bush, which over time turn the leaves into wrinkled and dry ones. Viral disease is spread by insect pests, mainly aphids and spider mites.
Interesting! In addition to spots or coating, mold also appears on gooseberries: white, yellow, gray, brown. The reasons for its appearance are a damp growing location, excess fertilizing, and dense planting. They get rid of the problem using an ash infusion: 1 kg of dry ash and 500 ml of liquid soap per 12 liters of water. The solution is infused for 3 days, filtered and used to water the gooseberries.
Mosaic appears if annual sanitary pruning of the shrub is not carried out, and dry and old shoots are not removed. The disease reduces the crop yield and quickly spreads to neighboring plants.
How to Treat the Bushes
To avoid the appearance of diseases, experienced gardeners recommend paying attention to preventive measures.
These procedures include:
- disinfection of seedlings and cuttings;
- planting gooseberries in a clean area without last year's plant debris and weeds;
- disinfecting garden tools before procedures;
- maintaining distance when planting;
- regular spraying with Bordeaux mixture or folk remedies;
- inspecting shrubs;
- collecting and removing fallen leaves;
- maintaining clean beds.
For the treatment of viral and fungal diseases, the systemic fungicide "Score" or "Topsin" is used. It is suitable for treating all varieties of gooseberries, has flexible application times and prolonged action. To prepare a working solution, use 10 liters of water and 2 ml of the product according to the instructions. Gooseberries are sprayed with a sprayer in dry weather, in the morning or evening. It is effective against powdery mildew, rust, anthracnose and white spot.
To get rid of insect pests, "Karate Zeon" or "Mospilan" are used: they destroy adults and larvae. The product is not washed away by rain and is not affected by high temperatures; it kills aphids and spider mites. Pests die within 2 - 3 hours. After 2 - 3 days, the effect of the procedure is consolidated with a garlic infusion (300 g of peeled garlic per 10 liters of water). The solution is mixed and filtered and used for spraying.
Against bacterial diseases, a 1% solution of Bordeaux mixture is used. To prepare it, you need 10 liters of water, 100 g of copper sulfate and 100 g of quicklime. The ingredients are mixed, and spraying is carried out every 2 - 4 weeks throughout the growing season.
Conclusion
Light leaves on gooseberries signal infection with powdery mildew, red or purple spots signal a lack of mineral elements, and yellow patterns signal mosaic virus.
For gooseberries to grow healthy and bear fruit consistently, it is recommended to treat them with antimicrobial agents and examine them for external signs of infection. When leaves curl, the shrub is sprayed with a solution of copper sulfate or Bordeaux mixture; when spots appear - with an ash solution or a fungicide like "Score".