Occurrence and Pathogen Identification of Wizened Buds on Peach Trees in Fujian

The conditions, symptoms, regularity and inducement of wizened bud incidents on the peach trees in southern China were investigated. The disease was tracked by field survey, and the infected tissues dissected for microscopic observations. The disease was characterized by the appearance of withered, shriveled and dead buds. It seriously impaired the yield, quality and vigor of the peach plants. As a result, the fruit production declined in recent years in the region. The disease occurred primarily at the sprouting phase of floral buds. But severity of the outbreak varied considerably by peach variety. Plants at the orchards at low altitude, in middle and lower sections of a sloping land, under open-field cultivation, or near a pear plantation were significantly more vulnerable than other localities. The major infecting pathogen was identified to be Phomopsis fukushii. By spraying bactericides during the time when the floral buds sprout, the incidence of wizened buds could be significantly reduced.