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Apple espalier leaves curling, yellowing, shriveling on one branch #245053
Asked May 17, 2015, 2:35 PM EDT
The leaves on one secondary branch of my apple espalier are curling/rolling towards the center. Some are yellow. I don't see aphids or any other obvious pest. I did see a white cocoon-like spot within one of the curled leaves. The rest of the tree look fine with apples on the way. I just sprayed all the tree with Dr. Earth fruit Tree Insect Killer ( aphids, scale, whiteflies, mites, earwigs and more!). Diagnosis and any other recommendations?
Marion County Oregon
Expert Response
Hi:
Curling of the leaves might be induced by leafrollers, and the "cocoon" you found might be a sign of the presence of those. Lerafrollers are small larvae of various moths. I'm not so sure about the yellowing and shrivelling of the leaves. Is it possible to send a photo of the damaged limb to the email address below?
Curling of the leaves might be induced by leafrollers, and the "cocoon" you found might be a sign of the presence of those. Lerafrollers are small larvae of various moths. I'm not so sure about the yellowing and shrivelling of the leaves. Is it possible to send a photo of the damaged limb to the email address below?
Hope these help.
Is the espalier plant composed of more than one apple cultivar? Or is it all the same cultivar?
Neil, yes this is a multiple cultivar. Unfortunately, the affected branch doesn't have a tag. There are 6 branches: on the bottom tier there is one tag on the left - Granny Smith; second tier is Lodi and Jonagold; and top tier is Fuji on the left and no tag on the right ( the affected branch). Might the top and bottom tiers be the same cultivar on each side?
As for how many cultivars are on the plant I don't know, but your count suggests that it could indeed be 6 cultivars. Complicated! So that one branch is responding to...something...we have not yet identified, One thing though, the product you sprayed can in some instances cause phytotoxicity-did you notice the curling/spotting after you sprayed, or before? Why don't you send me a picture of the whole plant, but send it to my email address directly. Working through AAE is too complicated.
