Tuberculosis of the olive tree
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The olive plant like any plant is also susceptible to being contaminated by a great variety of pests and diseases that can affect its production and the quality of the final product. One of them is tuberculosis or scabies. This is the disease is produced by a bacterium called Pseudomonas savastonoi that causes a kind of warts on the leaves of the olive tree.
Symptom:
The farmer must be attentive to the development of his plantation to distinguish the symptoms of the disease, the process of this disease can start with the previous injuries that the sources of the insects, the strong frosts, the pruning or, perhaps, by the process of harvest. With the advance of the disease, the growth of the bundles (2-3 cm) also progresses and there is a change in coloration: it goes from a color to a brown and until it becomes a crack and becomes dark.
Developing:
Within the tumors are the bacteria that cause the disease. The rain spreads the bacteria and these enter by the possible injuries that could have the plant. This alters the functioning of the plant by appearing warts. As a curious note, if this disease occurs between autumn and winter, the lesions appear towards spring. If it appears in spring, these are shown a couple of weeks after the infection.
Damage:
The olive plant shows weakening, spoliations and dry branches affecting the production of olives and the quality of the oil.
Treatment:
Since tumors are the main mode of infection, it is advisable to remove the branches with these protuberances to avoid infection. Use as a form of collection a less abrasive, as these leave cracks by which the bacteria has the ideal environment to develop. Prune in dry seasons and keep the pruning tools well sanitized.
Remember that these attentive to our crops, will be the most effective way to keep them productive and in optimal conditions.
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