How to Manage Pests

UC Pest Management Guidelines

Peach

Armillaria Root Rot (Oak Root Fungus)

Pathogen: Armillaria mellea

(Reviewed 4/10, updated 4/10, pesticides updated 9/15)

In this Guideline:

SYMPTOMS AND SIGNS

Roots infected with Armillaria mellea have white to yellowish, fan-shaped mycelial mats between the bark and the wood. Dark brown to black rhizomorphs sometimes can be seen on the root surface. All stone fruit rootstocks are susceptible sometimes to Armillaria root rot.

COMMENTS ON THE DISEASE

The fungus survives within dead and living roots and as rhizomorphs in the soil.

MANAGEMENT

Avoid planting peach orchards where forest or oak woodland has recently been cleared or where there is a history of Armillaria root rot. All rootstocks can be attacked by Armillaria mellea but some are less affected than others. Infested sites can be fumigated, but often this procedure will not prevent recurrence of the disease. Physical barriers to contain infection centers have been used successfully in orchards. Four-foot trenches are dug around the infection center and plastic tarp is laid inside the trench wall from bottom to top before the soil is replaced. The tarp prevents healthy roots from coming in contact with diseased ones, thus preventing spread of the disease.

Cultural Control

Research on other tree crops has indicated that exposing an infected crown and upper root area of a tree infected with Armillaria mellea may help to slow the development of the fungus into the crown area. In spring, remove soil from around the base of the tree to a depth of 9 to 12 inches. Leave the trunk exposed for the remainder of the growing season. During the spring, summer, and fall, keep the upper roots and crown area as dry as possible. Recheck the hole every few years to make sure it has not filled in with leaves, soil, and other matter; the hole must be kept open and the crown and upper roots exposed.

Organically Acceptable Methods

Cultural controls are acceptable for use in an organically certified crop.

Chemical Control
Before fumigating, remove all infected trees, stumps, and as many roots greater than 1 inch in diameter as possible. Healthy-appearing trees adjacent to those showing symptoms are often infected also. Removal of these adjacent trees and inclusion of that ground in the soil fumigation may be advisable. Infected trees, stumps, and roots should be burned at the site or disposed of in areas where flood waters cannot wash them to agricultural lands. Complete eradication is rarely achieved, and retreatment may be necessary in localized areas. If the soil is wet or if it has extensive clay layers to the depths reached by the roots, fumigant treatment may not be successful. The greatest opportunity for eradication occurs on shallow soils less than 5 feet in depth. Fumigate from late summer to early fall.

Common name		Amount to use	REI‡	PHI‡
(Example trade name)			(hours)	(days)
UPDATED: 9/15
When choosing a pesticide, consider its usefulness in an IPM program by reviewing the pesticide's properties, efficacy, application timing, and information relating to resistance management, honey bees (PDF), and environmental impact. Not all registered pesticides are listed. Always read the label of the product being used.
A.	METHYL BROMIDE*	Label rates	See label	See label
	COMMENTS: Must be applied under a Critical Use Exemption. For preplant fumigation. Before fumigating, dry soil by withholding water during summer and using cover crops such as sudangrass or safflower. The drier the soil the better for deep penetration. Deep-till the area after drying. If the soil is dusty, wait for an early rain before ripping and fumigation. Ripping a dry soil that is silty can result in large clods on the surface. Inject methyl bromide 18–30 inches deep with chisels and cover with gas-proof cover. Increasing the dose tends to increase the depth of penetration, but it cannot be relied upon to penetrate wet soils, especially if soils are high in clay. Do not remove the cover for at least 2 weeks and aerate 1 month before planting. Fumigants such as methyl bromide are a source of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) but are not reactive with other air contaminants that form ozone; methyl bromide depletes ozone.
B.	CHLOROPICRIN*	Label rates	See label	See label
*	Permit required from county agricultural commissioner for purchase or use.
‡	Restricted entry interval (REI) is the number of hours (unless otherwise noted) from treatment until the treated area can be safely entered without protective clothing. Preharvest interval (PHI) is the number of days from treatment to harvest. In some cases the REI exceeds the PHI. The longer of two intervals is the minimum time that must elapse before harvest.

PUBLICATION

UC IPM Pest Management Guidelines: Peach
UC ANR Publication 3454

Diseases

J. E. Adaskaveg, Plant Pathology, UC Riverside
R. A. Duncan, UC Cooperative Extension Stanislaus County
J. K. Hasey, UC Cooperative Extension Sutter/Yuba counties
K. R. Day, UC Cooperative Extension Tulare County

Acknowledgment for contributions to Diseases:

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