Pear trees are widely planted across various regions in China and are highly popular as economically important fruit trees, with many farmers engaged in their cultivation. In recent years, the occurrence of diseases and pests in pear trees has become increasingly severe, leading farmers to pay great attention to pesticide application for control. Below, let's explore the common diseases and pests of pear trees and the timing of pesticide application.
Common Diseases and Pests of Pear Trees
The common diseases affecting pear trees include pear black spot, pear scab, rust, anthracnose, pear decay, and pear leaf spot. Common pests include pear psylla, pear sawfly, aphids, pear psyllids, pear sawflies, pear stem borers, pear midges, pear gall wasps, and Comstock mealybugs. Pesticide application is required throughout the year to control diseases and pests. Protective fungicides should be sprayed for fungal diseases, while systemic insecticides can be used to control pests like pear sawflies and pear gall wasps.
Application Timing for Disease Control
Farmers should schedule pesticide application based on the occurrence of diseases. For example, in spring, preventive measures against decay should be taken, black spot fungus should be treated in March, and from April to May during the flowering period, pear black spot disease should also be treated. Before bagging the fruits, fungicides should be sprayed to prevent diseases.
Application Timing for Pest Control
From late March to early April, before pear trees bud, pesticides should be sprayed in orchards to control pests. Farmers can use 45% crystal sulfur combined with insecticides such as pyrethroids. Pesticide application should be concentrated based on the peak periods of pest hatching and adult emergence. For example, from March to May when pear trees are in bloom, systemic insecticides should be used to control pear gall wasps and to kill green beetles. In early March, pesticides should be sprayed to kill pear psylla and pear sawflies.
The period from mid-April to mid-June is a critical time for year-round control of diseases and pests in pear trees. During this time, the shoots, leaves, and young fruits of pear trees grow rapidly, and farmers should strengthen their efforts to control diseases and pests.
