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Hi, we planted two aprico... #256479

Asked June 23, 2015, 2:16 PM EDT

Hi, we planted two apricot trees about 15 years ago. I recall they were called Sunglow and Moonglow on the advice of the nursery. One died quite soon, so we forgot about them, since we no longer had a pollinator. After a few years a third one shot up, and thus year, to our surprise, for the first time ever all three are producing fruit! But most of it on one is deformed, on another they also have these black things on the underside of the leaves and so far the third one seems fine. I have been unable to find any pictures online that look like these. Thanks for any help you can provide!

Otter Tail County Minnesota

Expert Response

I suggest you have a certified arborist look at your trees as soon as possible.  They may have what's called the plum pox virus (PPV). PPV is spread by aphids. It is a very serious threat to the fruit-growing industry. The only control is to remove the tree.  Here is where to find arborists:
http://www.isa-arbor.com/findanarborist/findanarborist.aspx
Even an arborist may not be able to diagnose it, but he/she can contact people at the DNR who can make a definitive diagnosis.

I could not find a reference to an incidence of PPV in Minnesota, but it was found in Michigan in 2006, so you should take no chances.

Here are references on PPV:
http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/fid/may00/05120008.html
http://plant-clinic.bpp.oregonstate.edu/files/plant_clinic/plumpoxfs.pdf
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plum_pox

And those black things? I think they are aphids.
Dennis in St. Louis Park Replied June 23, 2015, 3:57 PM EDT

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