AusBonsai

hi gang, need some advice please.

This is a large trident maple I have been growing since 1985 and I originally purchased the tree as a mature semi trained plant from Ray Neski. The tree is 650 mm high and has a large buttress nabari.
Its always been well watered and fertilised and its planted in a very open mix. This growing season I am experiencing leaf deformation and dry tips with very little growth. Looks like some fungus/ disease has attacked the tree.

Appreciate your thoughts on a course of action ("if its not too late !")


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Hi Brian,
If, it is not marginal leaf scorch by heat or defoliation, check out this-The first signs that a tree has a Verticillium Wilt infection is the yellowing and then browning of leaves at the ends of some branches. Initially the yellowing and browning of the leaves is spotty throughout the tree and does not follow a uniform pattern. As the fungus begins to block the vascular system, the browning of leaves becomes more acute and more wide-spread. New leaves generally are either non-existent, undersized or yellowed.
I will let you read all about it on Google, but I suggest that you place the pot in water, not overhead watering,to ensure that the entire root zone is hydrated.
I do not think it is Anthracnos?
Do not give up yet.

Regards,
Black Knight

Hi Brian,
I have seen a number of threads on this forum debating what might create these symptoms in trident maple. You can read them through if you want to give yourself a scare!
Several of my own tridents experienced these symptoms at the start of spring however I am happy to report that they have all recovered. I believe the symptoms were fungus related and so sprayed with mancozeb. Whether this was the cure or not is hard to say.
I will say that the tridents that seemed to be more susceptible were the ones that had been the most aggresively root pruned; perhaps this was the entry point for some fungal infection?
Spray a bit of fungicide around and cross your fingers. I'm sure your tridents will be well again soon just as mine now are.

Not the greatest photos but from what I can see my vote is simply leaf scorch from the sun on a hot day.

Check out this search
search.php?st=0&sk=t&sd=d&keywords=%2BT ... %2Bdisease++"

and there is lots of discussion about trident leaf issues
Good luck

Ken

Brian, it seems there is a lot of this around this year for some reason? All my tridents(~150) have this or something similar at the moment. First flush of initial growth appeared fine then the later growth was deformed and burnt at the tips. Now they are struggling to push any new growth, even though they are trying.

I dont believe it has anything to do with root treatment at repotting time as my most severely effected tree was the only one I didn't repot this year! It was fine and healthy last year. I was also chatting to someone else yesterday at the BNW exhibition who had the same issue. I did find a couple of old threads on here that appear to describe the same problem. I just sprayed with Yates Rose Shield to see how it goes as I was advised that one of the Yates Rose fungicides is effective against it?

I`m having exactly the same problem. Im a trident amateur

The initial growth at spring was healthy and leaves formed properly.
However next flush ended up with leaves looking burnt and stunted.
I initially thought it may have been the QLD sun, but even after they have been in shade and watered religiously there has been no improvement.

Are you all using diatomite in your mixes? Have I got a bad batch. Is it fungus... help.

It is also present in my Liquid Ambers but to a lesser degree.... Help.

thanks for all the responses but its not leaf scorch. The tree has very poor growth and the leaves are very small so my guess is root fungus.

I sometimes have something similar on my tridents and occasionally on Chinese elms and oak but this year very little I did treat most trees with a fungicide in winter to combat other problems. Maybe that helped?
I believe you are correct in diagnosing fungal infection Brian. Not sure whether it is in roots, stems or leaves but it does usually seem to go away eventually, especially if the tree is kept a little drier for a while.
My experience is as per Jase. Not necessarily repotted trees. Any maples can show signs but it rarely appears on the trees in the grow beds if any of that gives any clues.

Brian wrote:hi gang, need some advice please.

This is a large trident maple I have been growing since 1985 and I originally purchased the tree as a mature semi trained plant from Ray Neski. The tree is 650 mm high and has a large buttress nabari.
Its always been well watered and fertilised and its planted in a very open mix. This growing season I am experiencing leaf deformation and dry tips with very little growth. Looks like some fungus/ disease has attacked the tree.

Appreciate your thoughts on a course of action ("if its not too late !")


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IMG_1939.JPG

Hi Brian, would you say you saw this on some Box Hill Maples as well, years ago? I had problems and I know there were issues in Ballarat stemming from the same trees.
My trees recovered by spraying Rogor before the new buds were formed. My idea is the problem starts in the bud.
Spraying stopped the problem and when it has re occurred, I sprayed again until eliminated.
Occasionally, it comes back and unchecked, it will kill trees.
I cant tell you what it is but only what fixed mine.

Hello Maple,
I remember you well. yes you are correct all the Japanese imported tridents got this disease and slowly died many years ago. This tree was an Australian grown plant, so I am assuming it will die soon.

Look similar Brian? My Trident seems to be struggling too.









I initially thought it was just wind burn... now I'm not too sure.

more likely be fungal infection. try repot with new soil. had the same problem with my trident too.

tuma wrote:more likely be fungal infection. try repot with new soil. had the same problem with my trident too.

Hi Tuma,
not sure about repotting in Brisbane. IMO, we shouldnt repot that in Melbourne now.

Brian, the triple trunk had it bad when I bought it 2 years ago- removed distorted leaves, isolated the tree and sprayed with Rogor.
The tree is 99% OK now, just throwing the occasional bad leaf.
Also, importantly, sterilise tools before working on anything else.
Not really knowing what it is, I didnt want it spread.
I think you will cure the tree if you are persistent over a number of seasons

Barry

I had a similar leaf problem on a trident with an exceptionally big turtleback root base. It was suggested that a lack of water caused this and as the smallness area of potting medium where water could filter in to the pot this was a real possibility. My solution was to slip pot into a wider, longer tray giving more area for water absorption. This year's leaves are back to normal.

In my experience I have found that tridents love water. Extreme drying due to very free draining potting mix could give similar effects.