Hemm caries of the olive treeimsejħa wkoll she Wolf, is a fungal disease that affects the wood of the tree. In the olive trees affected by caries, dry rot of the wood is highlighted, which develop mainly on the trunk, but also at the base, up to the roots, or on the main branches. Fortunately, tooth decay is not a very common disease and can be prevented with proper agronomic management. It is also possible to try to cure it with extraordinary pruning interventions. These are dendrosurgery operations, known as slupatura of the olive tree.
In this article we see how to identify olive trees affected by caries and how to heal them with slupatura.
What causes caries of the olive tree
Olive caries is caused by a number of fungal pathogens. These fungi penetrate the tree mainly through the pruning wounds or injuries of various kinds, such as a branch broken by the wind or a ħsad taż-żebbuġ too aggressive. The attacked wood gradually reduces to a dusty mass. Specifically these pathogenic fungi belong mainly to the genera:
- Perenniporia spp.
- Fomitiporia spp.
- Agrocybe spp.
- Trametes spp.
- Fomes spp.
- Stereum spp.
- Polyporus spp.
- Schyzophyllum spp.
Which olive trees affects the she-wolf
Olive caries disease especially affects older trees, which are more susceptible to disease. It is quite rare that it affects young and well-tended olive groves. In general, trees weakened by other plant diseases or by parasites (such as għajn tal-pagun, jieklu, kuċċinilla nofs ħabba tal-bżar etc.) are also more prone to this type of infections.
Damage of caries on the olive tree
When caries fungi hit trees, settling theirs fungi, the woody fabric slowly begins to degrade. Gradually this takes on a spongy, crumbly consistency, and a very light internal color. Often, the bark of the area affected by the she-wolf skips completely. The carious area is usually delimited by layers of dark colored fabrics (compartmentalization fabrics). By cutting the affected wood in a transversal direction, central or sectoral areas with highly degraded fabrics may occur. The anomalous presence of yellowing leaves in specific points of the canopy, followed by strong defoliation and early fruit drop, is a further sign that part of the tree has been affected by the disease.
How to prevent olive caries
To prevent the formation of caries in trees, you must first carry out the normals olive tree pruning interventions, in the correct times and ways. In case of large cuts, it is good practice to disinfect the area using copper-based products or mastics, those typically used for grafting (and which jinstab hawnhekk).
A good management of the olive grove, with correct cultivation practices, is in general a natural tool for defense against diseases. If you want, you can deepen all the elements for the right cultivation of the olive tree.
Treating olive caries with slupatura
Hemm slupatura is the technique to heal the olive trees affected by caries. In practice, it consists of a deep (surgical) cut of the diseased wood, which must go so far as to expose the still healthy tissues. The diseased parts must be cut and / or excavated. The healthy part, on the other hand, will then be disinfected with cupric products and covered with mastic. A certain skill is required to make the olive tree slupatura and it cannot be improvised. This is an extraordinary cut which, if badly executed, can lead to the death of the plant or to the further spread of the fungus.
How to perform the olive slupaura
The slupatura is performed with the help of several għodod tal-qtugħ (it can be done with a chainsaw, hatchets, chisels, etc.). The walls of the wood laid bare with the undermining should be left inclined, so that dangerous water stagnations cannot be created in the healed point.
A practical tip to better identify the wood damaged by decay is to hit a blow with the back of the ax. If, on striking, the sound is dull and empty, it is a sign of diseased wood. If the sound is dark and full, the wood is healthy and not affected by the wolf.
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