Dimpled, deformed fruit - Ask Extension
What causes both my Asian and European pears to be pitted and dimpled with hard spots and misshapen fruit? The trees seem healthy and I trap and monit...
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Dimpled, deformed fruit #848161
Asked August 31, 2023, 11:42 PM EDT
What causes both my Asian and European pears to be pitted and dimpled with hard spots and misshapen fruit? The trees seem healthy and I trap and monitor SWD, BMSB, and spray with neem on a 2 week schedule. The trees were limed last fall and are watered throughout the summer.
Clackamas County Oregon
Expert Response
Hi Marie and thanks for your question about your deformed pears this year. I have the same thing in spades on my pears and have lost at least half the crop. Your question really forced me to finally do some research and the answer is not good.
First, it seems a lot like stony pit virus and my pears look like the ones in the pictures. I can only think, since my tree is over 40 years old and has never had this problem, that the drought this year stressed the tree enough to cause the entire tree to succumb to the virus. The only reservation I have, is that it is the stem end rather than the blossom end that is most severely affected.
https://pnwhandbooks.org/plantdisease/host-disease/pear-pyrus-spp-stony-pit
Looking at the article, I also think there may be some stink bug damage, although most of the spots seem more "stony" than "corky". I have had a serious stink bug outbreak on many plants this year so I suppose it could be both.
The article says there is no cure except replacing the tree. This would be really sad for us so I'll probably wait and see what happens next year. For sure we will pay more attention to irrigation once the rains stop and maybe add a little boron next spring. I'll attach one more article which is a little more hopeful.
https://extension.psu.edu/pear-disease-stony-pit
Here's hoping we have better luck next year!
First, it seems a lot like stony pit virus and my pears look like the ones in the pictures. I can only think, since my tree is over 40 years old and has never had this problem, that the drought this year stressed the tree enough to cause the entire tree to succumb to the virus. The only reservation I have, is that it is the stem end rather than the blossom end that is most severely affected.
https://pnwhandbooks.org/plantdisease/host-disease/pear-pyrus-spp-stony-pit
Looking at the article, I also think there may be some stink bug damage, although most of the spots seem more "stony" than "corky". I have had a serious stink bug outbreak on many plants this year so I suppose it could be both.
The article says there is no cure except replacing the tree. This would be really sad for us so I'll probably wait and see what happens next year. For sure we will pay more attention to irrigation once the rains stop and maybe add a little boron next spring. I'll attach one more article which is a little more hopeful.
https://extension.psu.edu/pear-disease-stony-pit
Here's hoping we have better luck next year!
