Phony Peach Disease

No, we’re not talking about the sudden appearance of wax fruit in your backyard orchard. But if your peach trees are languishing, this may be the information you need.

Phony peach is a bacterial disease. Many trees with bacterial infections look scorched. Bacteria block the vascular tissue, so water and nutrients cannot move around, often killing a tree within two or three years. Phony peach disease does not behave this way. This disease gets its name because it makes you think the tree is healthy, maybe just a little slow. But it is dying.

Cause and carriers of phony peach disease

Xylella fastidiosa bacteria cause phony peach disease. This bacteria is also responsible for alfalfa dwarf, bacterial leaf scorch, citrus variegated chlorosis, coffee leaf scorch, oleander leaf scorch, olive quick decline, and Pierce’s disease.

Sharpshooters, ​especially glassy-winged sharpshooters, carry the bacteria responsible for phony peach disease.

Symptoms of phony peach disease

Symptoms of phony peach disease initially look insignificant, giving it time to spread before you can start protecting neighboring trees. Remove infected trees right away.If you are aware of and look for these symptoms, you may be able to save the rest of your peach trees:

• Shortened internodes
• Flattened canopy
• Dark green or bronze foliage
• Early leaf development
• Reduced fruit size and quality
• Overall stunting

As the disease progresses, you may also see shoot dieback and a significant reduction in normal shoot development.

Phony peach disease management

In this case, prevention is the only way to go. Use the following good habits to prevent phony peach disease from occurring in your landscape:

• Only install certified pest- and disease-free bare root stock.
• Keep weeds such as Johnson grass away from your peach trees, as they may harbor disease-carrying pests.
• Control glassy-winged sharpshooters as much as possible.