Java plum with Anthracnose: Prevention & Cure
Syzygium cumini
Anthracnose on Java plum: What to Know?
Anthracnose on Java plum (Syzygium cumini) is a fungal condition with high severity. Java plum has moderate susceptibility to this disease. Anthracnose is a fungal disease caused by fungi in the genus Colletotrichum that affects many plants, including vegetables, fruits, and trees. The disease thrives in cool, wet conditions, causing dark...
Java plum is a easy-care plant. Recovery from Anthracnose takes approximately 14 days with proper treatment.
Unlike bacterial infections, Anthracnose on Java plum can be managed with organic fungicides.
🔍 What Does Anthracnose Look Like on Java plum?
- • Small irregular yellow or brown spots on leaves
- • Dark sunken lesions on leaves, stems, flowers and fruits
- • Water-soaked lesions that darken as they age
- • Pink gelatinous masses of spores in lesion centers during warm, moist weather
- • Spots that expand and may cover entire leaves
- • Defoliation in advanced stages
❓ What Causes Anthracnose on Java plum?
- → Caused by fungi in the genus Colletotrichum
- → Cool wet weather promotes development
- → Optimum temperature between 75-85°F (24-29°C)
- → Foliage wet for extended periods of time
- → Fungi overwinter in seeds, soil and garden debris
- → Spores spread through water droplets
💊 How to Treat Anthracnose on Java plum?
TLDR: Treat Anthracnose on Java plum with quick treatment (~7 days) or organic (~14 days). Java plum has moderate susceptibility to this disease.
Quick Fixes
Remove and discard all visibly infected parts
Remove and discard all visibly infected parts
Apply commercial systemic fungicide (azoxystrobin or mancozeb)
Apply commercial systemic fungicide (azoxystrobin or mancozeb)
Adjust irrigation to avoid wetting foliage
Adjust irrigation to avoid wetting foliage
Second application of systemic fungicide
Second application of systemic fungicide
Assess treatment effectiveness
Assess treatment effectiveness
Organic Treatment
Remove all infected plant parts and discard in plastic bag
Remove all infected plant parts and discard in plastic bag
Apply organic liquid copper spray to all plant surfaces
Apply organic liquid copper spray to all plant surfaces
Switch irrigation regime to drip, avoiding foliage wetting
Switch irrigation regime to drip, avoiding foliage wetting
Second application of copper fungicide or neem oil
Second application of copper fungicide or neem oil
Assess progress and remove any new lesions
Assess progress and remove any new lesions
Final organic fungicide application and ongoing monitoring
Final organic fungicide application and ongoing monitoring
🛡️ How to Prevent Anthracnose on Java plum?
TLDR: Prevent Anthracnose on Java plum with 8 essential preventive care practices.
- ✓ Implement drip irrigation instead of overhead watering
- ✓ Give plants enough room to breathe and reduce humidity
- ✓ Remove infected plant material after harvest
- ✓ Practice crop rotation between hosts and non-hosts
- ✓ Choose resistant plant varieties when possible
- ✓ Use western grown seeds not exposed to the disease
- ✓ Avoid wetting foliage during watering
- ✓ Ensure good air circulation around plants
🌱 How to Care for Java plum to Prevent Anthracnose?
💧 How to Water
Keep the soil moist for the first 2 to 3 years, watering about once a week without rain. Mature trees tolerate drought and only need water during long dry spells. Dry weather during flowering and fruiting helps the crop.
☀️ Lighting
Full sun, with at least 6 hours of direct sun a day. In shade it flowers and fruits poorly.
🪴 Ideal Soil
Best in well-drained soil rich in organic matter, but it adapts to sand, loam, clay, limestone and wet low ground.
Frequently asked questions
Can Anthracnose kill my Java plum?
How long does Java plum take to recover from Anthracnose?
Is Anthracnose contagious to other plants near Java plum?
Sources & References
- Anthracnose: Identification, Prevention & Treatment | Gardening Know How
- Anthracnose: How to Identify, Control, and Prevent Anthracnose | The Old Farmer's Almanac
- Anthracnose Disease: Symptoms, Treatment and Control | Planet Natural
- Anthracnose: Symptoms, Prevention & Treatment Methods
- How to Identify, Treat, and Prevent Anthracnose
- Purdue NewCROP - Morton, Fruits of Warm Climates: Jambolan
- Wikipedia - Syzygium cumini
- Agrolink - Jambolão, a cor da saúde
- Super Rádio Tupi - O jamelão nasce rápido
- Top Tropicals - Syzygium cumini, Jambolan, Java plum
- UF/IFAS Assessment - Syzygium cumini