LeConte Pear tree fire blight? Or something else?? - Ask Extension
https://imgur.com/a/wsQrDA6
LeConte pear tree planted in the ground in summer of 2021 (~6ft tall at the time). It's produced about 8 pears in it's fi...
Knowledgebase
LeConte Pear tree fire blight? Or something else?? #805539
Asked August 09, 2022, 9:52 PM EDT
https://imgur.com/a/wsQrDA6
LeConte pear tree planted in the ground in summer of 2021 (~6ft tall at the time). It's produced about 8 pears in it's first year of production. Last couple days, I've seen this developing. Planted in Zone 8b in North Houston/Spring. Any idea if this is fire blight or something else? We give it plenty of water from a smart sprinkler controller during the night time. No fertilizer given this year and no trimming done.
Harris County Texas
Expert Response
I checked with our plant pathologist and fruit specialist and they both agree that it is not fire blight.
Please see their comments below:
Fruit specialist: The vein clearing and pattern of discoloration causes me to suspect herbicide injury. The creation of the bed and its source materials could be causing both nutritional and toxic uptake of something. The other is to make sure the bed is draining and they are not drowning it. I agree, not fireblight.
Plant Pathologist: My suspicion is something nutritional but I would also:
Thanks for the question.
Please see their comments below:
Fruit specialist: The vein clearing and pattern of discoloration causes me to suspect herbicide injury. The creation of the bed and its source materials could be causing both nutritional and toxic uptake of something. The other is to make sure the bed is draining and they are not drowning it. I agree, not fireblight.
Plant Pathologist: My suspicion is something nutritional but I would also:
- Assure them, these symptoms are NOT consistent with fireblight damage.
- Ask about chemical usage in the bed and the lawn.
- Ask about the progression of the symptoms (quick or slow onset, where start first) – I got my guesses what they’ll say.
- For the submitted image, appears that majority of the foliage is affected. It is something uptake or nutrient (maybe poor root related)
Thanks for the question.
Hi Paul,
No herbicide has been used in over a year in that bed with at least 3 months of downtime in that bed before planting the pear tree. I had used triclopyr to control some invasive trumpet vine in and around the bed but like I mentioned I didn't plant the tree for another 3 or so months and the pear tree had very well rooted enough to produce this season. I had used milorganite in the lawn last fall and a Scotts crabgrass pre-emergent/turf builder as well.
Is it possible this could be a result of some mites, maybe pear tree blister/rust mites?
Also, the symptoms had sudden onset, maybe gradually developed over the past couple weeks
Hi Paul,No herbicide has been used in over a year in that bed with at least 3 months of downtime in that bed before planting the pear tree. I had used triclopyr to control some invasive trumpet vine in and around the bed but like I mentioned I didn't plant the tree for another 3 or so months and the pear tree had very well rooted enough to produce this season. I had used milorganite in the lawn last fall and a Scotts crabgrass pre-emergent/turf builder as well.Is it possible this could be a result of some mites, maybe pear tree blister/rust mites?
Here are some additional interesting photos
Also, the symptoms had sudden onset, maybe gradually developed over the past couple weeksHi Paul,No herbicide has been used in over a year in that bed with at least 3 months of downtime in that bed before planting the pear tree. I had used triclopyr to control some invasive trumpet vine in and around the bed but like I mentioned I didn't plant the tree for another 3 or so months and the pear tree had very well rooted enough to produce this season. I had used milorganite in the lawn last fall and a Scotts crabgrass pre-emergent/turf builder as well.Is it possible this could be a result of some mites, maybe pear tree blister/rust mites?
