Plants represent one of the main sources of food for human beings, there are fruit species that are essential for people's diets, one of the most sought-after trees is the lemon tree, very popular for its citrus fruit and also for being a plant that needs a lot of care, since it is exposed to a large number of pests that harm it, so let's learn about the most common lemon tree diseases that we describe in the following article.
the lemon tree
Plants represent a relevant factor for the development of humanity, being one of the most important raw materials for the evolution of society, but the most relevant factor is that they are responsible for carrying out the biochemical process of photosynthesis, providing the oxygen necessary for all living organisms. In addition, plants are one of the main sources of food, by providing fruits suitable for human consumption, in this case the lemon tree species stands out.
The lemon tree is a small perennial fruit tree (it does not lose its leaves during the changes of the seasons of the year), its fruit is very well known for having an acid and very fragrant flavor, being mainly used for food purposes. It is a type of species that is widespread worldwide, it adapts easily to different types of soils and is resistant to climatic conditions, although it does not usually survive in low temperature conditions.
This type of plant belongs to the Rutaceae family and the Citrus genus, which is why it is known as Citrus x Lemon, specifically because of the properties of its fruit. According to the studies, they consider that it is a species native to Asia in the eastern region, with a great variety of species and hybrids that offer a diversity of fruit in shape and size.
The lemon tree is a tree that can reach up to 6 meters in height, has a thin stem, leaves with a leathery texture with a size between 10 centimeters and a jagged edge, it has white flowers, very aromatic and normally sprout in pairs. (rarely alone); the time that presents the greatest number of flowers is in spring but several bulbs can be observed throughout the year.
Its fruit, commonly known as the lemon, is green at the beginning and then turns yellow. It is considered the greatest attraction of this tree, which is why it is highly sought after for various nutritional and medicinal purposes, among others. Due to this, there are a large number of intensive crops dedicated to obtaining its fruit and they can even be seen in small gardens as an ornamental fruit plant.
This type of tree needs sufficient exposure to the sun and be planted in hot climates, highlighting the fact that they can only withstand up to 6 degrees Celsius. It must be watered abundantly, mainly in summer, where it is advisable to sprinkle the leaves of the plant with water and keep it as moist as possible. The type of soil used should preferably be one mixed with 25% sand, 25% peat and 50% leaf litter, although it can be easily adapted to any type of soil.
The lemon tree has great virtues as a fruit tree, which is why it is highly sought after, but highlighting the fact that it has two very marked disadvantages, firstly, its low resistance to low temperatures and secondly, the pests that tend to adhere to it very easily, bringing lethal consequences for the plant.
Lemon Tree Diseases
Lemon trees are a type of citrus tree used by people, first to obtain their fruit, they represent a main source of human nutrition, but they also stand out for requiring a great deal of care in order to maintain their living conditions. ideal on the plant. Referring mainly to the pests and diseases that adhere to it, below we will discuss a little about the most influential diseases of the Lemon tree:
Alternaria Alternata
This type of disease is generated by the fungus Alternaria, it is a type of ascomycete fungus, this class being well known for being the largest plant pathogens. It can also affect human beings, being found inside homes and generating allergic rhinitis and even affecting the bronchial tubes to cause asthma attacks. They are a type of fungus as spores in the environment and are transported through the air, therefore there is continuous exposure to it.
Alternaria spores are suspended in the air, coming into contact with the ground, objects, water, and mainly plants; by adhering to the latter, it generates long colonies that grow visibly in black and gray colors, weakening the tree to the point of death. The deterioration is initially observed in the leaves and finally in the stem, it is a type of disease that progresses very quickly; In this case, it is recommended to reduce the irrigation of the tree to heal the affected areas.
Sadness Virus
This type of disease is exclusive to citrus, also known as citrus sadness. It is considered the most dangerous disease of the lemon tree, since it can kill the plant in a few weeks. It is caused by the Closteroviridae virus and being spread mainly by aphids, it is a tiny insect very similar to fleas, they feed on plants until they parasitize or contaminate them with a virus.
The sadness virus has very varied symptoms, firstly observing the weakness of the tree, very low production, flowering out of season and not allowing its growth to continue. It is considered a very violent virus, killing the tree in a few months, although there are cases where the citrus tree dies in just three weeks. There is no cure for this disease, the recommended measure is to cut down the tree affected by the virus and burn it before contaminating other species.
exocortis
It is a disease that originates from the citrus exocortis viroid (CEVD) represents a condition very seen in citrus trees, caused by inadequate care of plant crops. It is a pathogenic agent that exclusively attacks lime, lemon and pummelo tree species, affecting it to the point of generating scales and some vertical cracks in the bark area, it also causes yellow spots with some green shoots, influencing the growth of the plant until it generates dwarfism.
This virus decreases the life of the plant but stands out for deteriorating very slowly, in addition to influencing the yields of affected citrus trees. The treatment for these cases is to cut down the tree and burn it, avoiding at all times that it can transmit the virus to other nearby species; In the same way, it is advisable to acquire species of lemon trees free of the exocortis virus and use pruning tools that are disinfected.
Penicillium
Penicillium is considered a very common disease in the lemon tree species, it is a type of affectation that begins with the presence of a green or white mold affecting those fallen lemons, this type of mold is known as Penicillium Italicum. This type of fungus only influences the fruit of the tree, where the spores that are in the air, settling in the healthy fruit, passing through its skin and rotting it.
The main symptoms that are displayed on the fruit are circular spots of mold on the skin of the fruit, spreading throughout it until it rots. It is considered easy to deal with this type of disease, since only the application of a copper-based fungicide is needed to combat this type of mold and reduce the risks of the plant.
Psoriasis
Psoriasis is a type of disease that is transmitted by a virus that is found in the air and affects the external area of the plant. It is necessary to point out that it also affects human beings, generating very drastic skin problems. In the case of plants, they present scales on the branches and on the trunk, in some countries it is considered deadly due to the influence of the climatic and geographical conditions of the area.
The lemon trees that are affected by this type of disease are seen in the irregular areas, where part of the bark of the tree begins to detach and even gummosis can be observed, the latter known by a continuous secretion in the form of rubber on the branches and on the the trunks, being considered as a type of fungus that indirectly affects the internal skin of the plant being exposed. There is no definitive cure for this disease, so it is recommended to scrape the affected areas and cover them with the ideal medicine.
Lemon Pests
The affectations of the plants are considered as an unavoidable factor due to the fact that they are exposed to direct contact with the wind, water and solar rays, being one of the main means used by the bacteria and microorganisms that affect the plants, in this case we will know some of the the main pests that usually adhere to lemon trees and are also very common for citrus trees:
Minelayer
Miners are considered to be insect larvae that usually have leaf tissues as their natural habitat, causing great damage to crops and gardens. They are a very difficult species to eradicate because they generate defenses against insecticides by feeding inside the tissues of the tree leaves, but they do not rapidly deteriorate the tree because they start feeding on the areas that have the least amount of cellulose.
Lemon trees are a species that is highly affected by leafminers, influencing more than anything the species of trees with very young leaves. One of the main symptoms of the presence of the leafminer is the brown spots, where the leaves end up rolling up until they wither and fall off the tree. There are some methods to be combated using Neem Oil or even some countries use trap crops around the species in order to protect them.
Aphids
Aphids are a very small insect (0,5 centimeters long) belonging to the insect family, being very similar to fleas but their taxonomy is completely different, feeding on plants and then finally parasitizing them, they are insects of very varied colors between green, yellow and black. They represent one of the main pests that put crops at risk and have a great preference for citrus trees.
They appear in those areas with high environmental humidity content and with a temperature between 15 degrees Celsius. They perch on the flower buds and their buds, causing them to fail to generate new leaves and their fruits being affected by presenting deformations due to this they cannot be consumed. It is advisable to prevent it by applying insecticides to the plant, but if there are already aphids present, it can be treated with Neem Oil.
Cottony Mealybug
It corresponds to a type of insect that has an oval shape, in addition to having a cottony cover, this silk is responsible for protecting its eggs. It is a type of pest that affects plant crops, mainly those that are citrus and fruit-bearing. The cottony mealybug predominates in the summer seasons, mainly due to the high temperatures and the dry environment.
Plants take advantage of summer times to finish growing completely before being exposed to cold weather, so care must be taken during this period because they can drastically affect the plant. Any mistake during this time of caring for the lemon tree can cause the cottony mealybug to invade it specifically on the underside of the leaves and stems.
The way to combat them is through ecological insecticides where they are usually mixed in equal parts of water and isopropyl alcohol, all this in a one-liter bottle, then a tablespoon of dishwasher or soap must be added to the mixture, finally cover the bottle and stir; This mixture should be sprayed on the lemon tree as a treatment against cochineal.
Red spider
The red spider corresponds to a mite that feeds on various plant species, they measure approximately 0,5 centimeters and have a red color that is usually very favored in hot environments and those dry in summer. It is characterized by generating cobwebs where the insect moves from leaf to leaf, which is why they can be confused with spiders.
They are not a type of pest but they can become very dangerous, because they can weaken the plant by constantly feeding on its cells; This type of mite lives in colonies located on the underside of the leaves, where they produce silk threads in large quantities. There are ways to avoid and control them and this is a yellow chromatic trap, being placed near the tree.
Other problems
The lemon tree corresponds to a type of citrus tree that is quite resistant but must have a meticulous care and especially for the conservation of all its fruits, sometimes pests tend to attack this species not naturally but due to errors in care and causing them to adhere to make her sick. Some of these issues are highlighted below:
Yellow sheets
It is one of the affectations that lemon trees present, the green nerves of the leaves are observed and this is attributed to the lack of iron, avoiding this difficulty when making fertilizers rich in this mineral, other factors that can cause it is the excess of irrigation that causes the loss of the nutrient by runoff, by reducing the frequency of irrigation the tree will recover quickly.
Leaves that lose color
The lack of coloration of the leaves is a factor that is attributed to the lack of light, by placing the plant in an area with greater light exposure it will recover its natural color.
leaf fall
There are several reasons that lead to the fall of the leaves in the lemon tree, the most common is the sudden change in temperature, exposure to air currents, lack of water or the natural death of the plant; To reduce the loss of leaves on the tree, it is recommended to maintain constant irrigation, place padded areas on the leaves and keep it away from drafts in winter.
The plant does not grow
In case it is inside a pot, it can be attributed to the fact that the plant does not have more space for the expansion of its roots, so it is advisable to transplant it preferably in spring times where temperatures are higher than 15 degrees Celsius. While if it is found in the gardens, the lack of growth can be attributed to the lack of fertilizer, it is advisable to use animal manure or guano.
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