Black soot/mould on passionfruit

Posted by Laine on January 30, 2011 at 9:10am

HI all,

I have a 3 year old passionfruit vine and have noticed mould on parts of it this week. It is mainly on fruit - on the stem where it joins the fruit as well as the top quarter of the fruit itself. It has been very dry here so don't think dampness is an issue. In fact, I wonder if my lack of watering it this season has mean it is too dry and prone to infection. I sprayed with a garlic spray today in the hope that helps. 

 

Does anyone know what it is and a good remedy?

 

Smiles

 

Laine

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Replies

  • Christy Ralphs February 2, 2011 at 12:06pm
    could be a fungal disease as well, passionfruit are susceptible. it doesn't have to be damp to get fungal diseases. probably not much to do now it's on  the fruit - i'd have a plan of attack ready from next flowering for both hopper control and fungal diseases.
    • Laine > Christy Ralphs February 15, 2011 at 9:40am

      A plan is definately the go. Last season I did the 3 day in a row pyrethrum spray in November and had no problem with the adults in Summer, but I did not get around to it this year.

       

      In the mean time I have bought some neem oil off trade me and sprayed thoroughly twice. It is an anti-feeder, and they do appear to be disappearing slowly...

  • Laine February 2, 2011 at 9:41am

    In case anyone else has this, I did some research and found an article on passion vine hoppers, of which I have a lot at the moment:

    "Both nymphs and adults suck sap from tender stems and shoots and excrete great quantities of sticky honeydew on which sooty moulds may grow." http://www.hortnet.co.nz/publications/hortfacts/hf401035.htm 

    So therein lies my problem. Now if I can find a natural remedy for the hoppers...But I think the key is to kill the young in Oct/Nov with a pyrethrum/garlic spray so my vine may just have to battle on.  L

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