Re: thickened leaves on kinnikinnick
- Subject: Re: thickened leaves on kinnikinnick
- From: Tony and Moira Ryan t*@xtra.co.nz
- Date: Wed, 28 Aug 2002 13:56:46 +1200
Diane Whitehead wrote:
>
> My Arctostaphylos uva-ursi 'Vancouver Jade' which has been growing
> vigorously for many years, has developed thickened new leaves on one
> of its branches. This is very similar to an affliction that one of
> my azaleas gets every year. I pick off the azalea leaves as soon as I
> notice them and put them in the garbage. They produce spores if I
> don't pick them off quickly enough.
>
> The kinnikinnick leaves haven't produced spores yet, as they must
> have just developed this problem this week. It does not appear to be
> what happens with spruce broom rust, of which it is an alternate host.
Diana
The galls are caused by a fungus (Exobasidium uvae-ursi) closely related
to, but distinct from, the one on your Azaleas (E.vaccinii), so they are
not responsible for this infection. It is not a rust, but in the same
group as the fungus which causes leafcurl on peaches and some other
Prunus species..
Apparently it is a very common affliction on A uva-ursii, but your
particular variety is said to be somewhat resistant. Perhaps that is why
it has only just developed the trouble.
I don't see any particular suggestions for control, so I would just pick
off the attacked leaves before the spores appear exactly as you do with
the azaleas.
Moira
--
Tony & Moira Ryan,
Wainuiomata, North Island, NZ. Pictures of our garden at:-
http://mywebpages.comcast.net/cherie1/Garden/TonyandMoira/index.htm
