Winter King and Cedar/Hawthorn rust

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Decumbent Cincinnati, OH(Zone 6b) Jul 14, 2006

I've read that Winter King is a rust resistant variety, and yet I've been seeing trees with crowns of rust on nearly every fruit. What gives? Has the rust adapted? Is this year an anomaly? Will the rust on just the fruit become anything more than a cosmetic issue?

Scott

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Kevin_5 Elburn, IL(Zone 5a) Jul 14, 2006

I've never seen it as anything but cosmetic here, with Winter King getting it as bad as anything in my old neighborhood. The orange shoes and the orange barefeet were the worst part.

Post #2506185
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ViburnumValley Scott County, KY(Zone 5b) Jul 14, 2006

Resistant only means that; doesn't mean immune. I've never seen a WK die or even do poorly from the fungus, but it can be annoyingly orange out of season.

Having the alternate host around probably exacerbates the extent of infection, as can having supportive atmospheric conditions.

Post #2506287
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victorgardener Lower Hudson Valley, NY(Zone 6b) Jul 14, 2006

Could not agree more, Scott. My Winter King, one of my favorite trees, is completely covered in rust this year - especially the fruit. In fact, there is a layer of reddish brown dust underneath the tree. I was thinking all the rain we've had may have something to do with it. I'll try to post a photo. I too hope that it's only cosmetic. So where's the resistance?!

Victor

Post #2506289
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Lucky_P Hopkinsville, KY(Zone 6b) Jul 15, 2006

Some goober planted what seems like hundreds of WKs, in double rows, bordering the parking lots at the community college across the street from my office. I can't recall ever seeing the fruits when they weren't just big masses of fungal fruiting bodies. Haven't really looked closely at the plants themselves in a couple of years, so I can't say for sure whether there were/are any twig/branch lesions.

Post #2508948
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victorgardener Lower Hudson Valley, NY(Zone 6b) Jul 16, 2006

Here's a shot of mine. Worst year yet.

Victor

Thumbnail by victorgardener
Post #2512578
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StarhillForest Illinois, IL(Zone 5b) Jul 16, 2006

Quoting:
Here's a shot of mine. Worst year yet.

WOW -- I've NEVER seen it that bad!

Our main problem here this year (besides the weather, and the Japanese beetles, and . . . ) is fireblight. By far the worst I've seen in decades.

Guy S.

Post #2513356
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victorgardener Lower Hudson Valley, NY(Zone 6b) Jul 17, 2006

Question is - is it still only cosmetic???

Victor

Post #2513391
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Kevin_5 Elburn, IL(Zone 5a) Jul 17, 2006

Guy:

I didn't show you all the branches I lopped of the crabapple trees from fireblight--it was bad.

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