Knowledgebase

Is this Scab Disease on my young Comice Pear Tree? #873772

Asked June 19, 2024, 12:26 PM EDT

Hello, I filled out the information on the OSU Extension, but the submit button didn't seem to work, so here I go again.  I have a 3 year old Comice Pear Tree, it has  bear fruit, but most of it has dropped as it looks like either the birds, or squirrels were trying for it.  The last couple of weeks, the tree has changed completely to some brown/black spots to full-blown spots on the leaves and now they're dropping.  The tree is ill and I would like to know what I should do?  I applied Captain Jacks for organic gardening and have sprayed the leaves only once.  What kind of treatment spray does the tree need and when and how?  It was healthy prior.  It is planted next to a very old apple tree that has numerous illnesses, but seems to produce a few apples each year.  Not sure if it caught something from the apple tree?

Thank you for your time,

Debora Connolly

Lane County Oregon

Expert Response

I cannot be positive on this identification. The most likely cause is Fabraea leaf spot, also known as leaf blight and black spot, caused by the fungus Fabraea maculata. This disease usually appears late in the growing season but can occasionally develop in late May and early June. Fabraea leaf spot attacks leaves, fruit, and twigs of pear. Symptoms first appear as brown to black spots on the leaves. Heavily infected leaves often yellow and drop prematurely. Severe defoliation can substantially reduce tree vigor and yield, especially if trees are defoliated several years in a row. Outside events cannot, however, be discounted, such as spray damage. Ideally a generous sample should be taken to the local OSU Extension office which has hands-on diagnosis and a microscope. Yours is in Eugene at 10th and Jefferson, entrance on 10th. This appears to be a very young tree so there could even be a root problem, but that is less likely.
Patricia Patterson Replied June 25, 2024, 3:39 PM EDT

Thank you Patricia, a friend of mine has an orchard of mostly 400 different varietal of apple trees and some pear.  She is also having these same issues with her trees and believes it is pear scab.  We had plenty of heavy rain for 2 weeks and I would imagine that impacted the trees.  I've never sprayed the tree and the leaves are definitely impacted with brown spots all over.  They have not turned yellow either and I've lost about half.

Thank you for your input-

Debora

On 6/25/2024 12:39 PM, Ask Extension wrote:
The Question Asker Replied June 26, 2024, 12:17 PM EDT
Thank you for the feedback. I am never quite happy with some of the iffy problems, which is why I referred you to our local extension. Yes, it has been a very difficult year for our plants and is not really improving.
Patricia Patterson Replied June 26, 2024, 12:40 PM EDT
Patricia Patterson Replied June 26, 2024, 12:44 PM EDT

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