Crab apple issue with leaves

[Rob_phillips]

Hi all I've noticed that my crab apple has an issue with the leaves it almost seems like the top side of the leaf is separating from the bottom part of the leaf and casing the top side to con taught up and the bottom stays very tight almost like it is not growing with the top side of the leaf and it cracks if you touch it I have sprayed with fungus fighter and rose clear ultra.
Any suggestions on what it could be.

 

[JudyB]

This could be thrips damage, can’t see close enough to tell for sure. I would remove all the fruit right away or at least most.

 

[Wires_Guy_wires]

I have seen cases like these, they usually were either viral infections caused by aphids or weird growth patterns caused by a disbalance in flowering hormones.
The viral cases usually disappear after a year with little to no damage.
The weird growing pattern could be hard coded, but also caused by drought, or intense heat.

If it happens again next year, you can be worried. For now I wouldn't worry about it, there's probably nothing you can do about it.

 

[rockm]

That looks like insect damage. thrips is a good bet.

 

[Rob_phillips]

We have crap pesticides in the uk but have sprayed with big clear ultra will thrips be an ongoing thing I cant seem to find much info on them

 

[Rob_phillips]

This could be thrips damage, can’t see close enough to tell for sure. I would remove all the fruit right away or at least most.

What do you need to see up close maybe I can take a pic of that ?

 

[Rob_phillips]

I have just noticed a similar thing on the Rose's that are maybe 10 foot away from this tree

 

[Rob_phillips]

I have seen cases like these, they usually were either viral infections caused by aphids or weird growth patterns caused by a disbalance in flowering hormones.
The viral cases usually disappear after a year with little to no damage.
The weird growing pattern could be hard coded, but also caused by drought, or intense heat.

If it happens again next year, you can be worried. For now I wouldn't worry about it, there's probably nothing you can do about it.

Hi thanks for the response.
Interesting that.
Just a thought though if it were hard coded would it not have shown in previous years I mean in the 4 years of having the tree I have not seen evidence of this before .

 

[LanceMac10]

thrips damage

..my first thought.....maybe even leaf-miner/borer.....crabs are bug magnets!!!

 

[JudyB]

What do you need to see up close maybe I can take a pic of that ?

Google Thrips leaf damage images and compare to your leaves.

 

[Rob_phillips]

A couple more pics

 

[JudyB]

Has the appearance of thrips or some leaf miner. I don't know what Rose clear is, but I don't think this is a fungus, so if Rose clear isn't an insecticide, I would spray with insecticidal soap. And if you want to keep the health of the tree, you should take off many if not all of the fruit. It has so much fruit the energy will be spent on that and the health will suffer even more.

 

[Rob_phillips]

Has the appearance of thrips or some leaf miner. I don't know what Rose clear is, but I don't think this is a fungus, so if Rose clear isn't an insecticide, I would spray with insecticidal soap. And if you want to keep the health of the tree, you should take off many if not all of the fruit. It has so much fruit the energy will be spent on that and the health will suffer even more.

Yeah rose clear is a combination of fungicide and pesticides I sprayed that 2 weeks ago then I sprayed it with a designated fungicide 6 days ago and I have sprayed it with bug clear ultra today its basically the strongest pesticide we can access in the uk
I have ordered another pesticide and fungicide today both different chemicals to what I have so can use them soon too

It's a good idea with the fruit too and I haven't been fertilizing yet either so that will help strengthen it too

 

[rockm]

The problem with spraying for whatever this is is that spraying requires contact with the insect to kill it. The insect is INSIDE the leaf--the spray can't get to it effectively.

Systemic insecticide is probably the answer. sprinkle the granules on the soil surface, the plant takes up the poison and the insect eats it. Insect dies...

Something like this:

Index | Southern States Co-op

www.southernstates.com

 

[LanceMac10]

There are insecticides specifically formulated to be absorbed by the leaf and eradicate the pest. But usually only available by contacts in the landscape trade and in bulk.....so good luck.


Systemic, as mentioned, might be a more efficacious solution?

 

[Rob_phillips]

The insecticides used is a systematic spray not much more we can get in the uk unfortunately

 

[LanceMac10]

.....cool fingers, isn't it weird to look at 'em from this perspective?


yeah it's Friday, CHEERS MATE!!

 

[Rob_phillips]

.....cool fingers, isn't it weird to look at 'em from this perspective?


yeah it's Friday, CHEERS MATE!!

Hey ?
Lol