The decline of apricots in first years after planting is one of the major problems in most
countries where apricots are grown, mostly in areas with unfavorable weather
conditions, including Slovenia. The most common phenomenon is apoplexy of apricots,
that is sudden dieback of branches or whole tree because of different causes, mostly a
combination of stress because of too high moisture, frost, wounds due to incorrect
pruning or spring oscillation of high and low temperatures. Because of low temperatures
in spring, trunk and branches often crack, and in these places different pathogens enter
the tree, such as bacteria and fungi. Most known are bacteria from genus Pseudomonas,
genus Phytophthora, fungus from genus Cytospora, which plug phloem and xylem, and
many others. Besides diseases, connected with apoplexy, there are also others, different
species of rots, shot hole disease (Stigmina carpophila). The cause of decline can also
be due to incompatibility between scion and rootstock, the inappropriate location of the
orchard, unsuitable soil. There are not any successful technological solutions available
yet, and in the process of breeding they try to get as more tolerant and resistant trees as
possible.
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