Having a backyard and tending to plants can be a truly fulfilling experience. However, it also comes with its challenges. Sometimes, you may come across strange things that leave you scratching your head. Recently, a Reddit user in Oklahoma stumbled upon a peculiar sight in their trees – a lot of yellow jelly and what they described as a “jelly alien nut”. Intrigued and confused, they turned to the online community for answers.
Introducing Cedar-Apple Rust
The mysterious phenomenon turned out to be a type of rust disease called cedar-apple rust. Don’t worry, it’s not as alien as it sounds! Cedar-apple rust requires two hosts to complete its life cycle, with apples and crabapples being the most commonly affected. Interestingly, it can also appear on juniper trees.
Identifying Cedar-Apple Rust
To distinguish cedar-apple rust, it’s crucial to know the symptoms. On juniper trees, you’ll notice brown, perennial galls forming on the twigs. As the weather becomes rainy in spring, these galls produce orange gelatinous horns. While the twig beyond the gall may die, there is no significant damage to the juniper host.
On apple or crabapple trees, circular yellow lesions appear on the leaves shortly after they bloom. These lesions then develop into brownish clusters of threads or cylindrical tubes as summer progresses. You can find them under the spots on the leaves, twigs, or fruits.
Understanding the Life Cycle
Now, you might be wondering how long this disease lasts. The galls start to appear seven months after the initial infection. After 18 months, they transform into gelatinous masses. In the following spring, they give rise to telial horns, which resemble golf-ball-like depressions on the galls.
When spring rains arrive, the telial horns elongate and turn a vibrant orange color. This is when they release their spores. Eventually, the horns collapse, dry up, and fall off. While the galls die, they remain attached to the tree for at least another year. The infection is most noticeable in spring when the galls are covered in gelatinous masses.
Managing Cedar-Apple Rust
Fortunately, managing this infection is relatively straightforward. If you spot any infected areas, you can prune them off to prevent further spread. It’s worth noting that cedar-apple rust won’t kill your trees; it only causes cosmetic damage to the plants. However, if you prefer a preventative approach, you can use fungicides or choose apple varieties that are resistant to this disease.
In conclusion, cedar-apple rust may be an unusual sight in your backyard, but it doesn’t pose a significant threat to your trees. It’s important to be aware of this infection so that you know how to handle it should it appear. Spread the word to others so they can also recognize and understand cedar-apple rust. Happy gardening!
