Silver leaf
A fungal disease of plums, cherries and other fruit trees that gives leaves a silvery sheen and kills branches from the inside.
Also known as: Chondrostereum purpureum
Symptoms and identification
Leaves develop a silvery or leaden sheen, often on a single branch at first. Cut stems show a brown to purple stain in the wood. Branches die back, and in the following years purple-grey, bracket-like fungal bodies grow on dead wood.
Causes
Spores released in autumn and winter enter through fresh pruning wounds and broken branches. The fungus grows inside the wood and releases toxins that cause the silvery look in the leaves.
Organic treatment
Cut off affected branches at least 15 cm below the last stained wood, in summer. Burn or bin the wood and disinfect tools.
Prevention
Prune plum, cherry and related trees only in mid to late summer, when spores are fewer and wounds heal quickly. Keep trees healthy and avoid wounds in autumn and winter.
Chemical treatment (use with care)
No fungicide cures established silver leaf. Treat larger pruning wounds with a wound sealant labelled for the purpose only if recommended locally.