Plant diseases caused by viruses, specialized bacteria, viroids and mycoplasmas are often considered by many to be incurable and terminal. That is, if your plants are afflicted with any of these virulent pathogens, remission and curing of the disease is impossible and death is imminent. It is true that diseases caused by obligate parasites are…
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Managing Viral Plant Diseases and Reducing Symptoms
Viruses constitute one of the most sophisticated pathogens known to man. They are entirely dependent upon the living host and have developed an intimate association with the host. One adaptation in particular needs mentioning here so that we can understand our rationale on how to combat this pathogen. The virus has a sensitive chemical communication…
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Mycoplasma-Like Organism (MLO): A Serious Disease of Palo Verde Trees
A few years ago, Ms. Lori Gavitt, the very skilled and knowledgeable resident horticulturist-arborist at the Reserve Golf & Country Club in Southern California was kind enough to host my visit to the club. During this tour, Ms. Gavitt pointed out the abnormal and apparently debilitating Mycoplasma infection afflicting the palo verde trees planted in…
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Post-Harvest Defoliation of the Almond Tree Canopy
For many years now, since the mid-1960s, almond growers have been told to defoliate their trees shortly following harvest. In most cases the agent used to defoliate trees was zinc sulfate (36%), applied between 10-25 pounds/acre with a 100 gallon ride. The rationale behind such a recommendation was as follows: Remove the tissue upon which…
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