Issue with Growing Stone Fruits or Plum Hybrids in the South

This February, I discovered that our plum hybrid trees have had uneven corky tumors near the root crowns. From doing research, I learned this is actually crown gall, a disease infected by bacteria enter through the openings of the roots and trunks. The tumors, also called galls, tend to grow on the roots and trunks and prevent transporting of nutrients throughout the tree. Mature trees may survive, but younger ones may lose vigor and die. Our plum hybrids are one-year trees that I bought as bare-roots from the same nursery.

Crown gall, removed from a stone fruit tree, can be as big as an egg

Treatment

I treated crown gall with 10% bleach. Since the Flavor King pluot got hit the hardest. I had to prune 90% of its roots, soaked it in diluted bleach for approximately one hour and replanted it at the same spot. The other plum hybrid trees were not that bad. I only saw crown galls above the soil and did not have to pull them out to prune the roots. I just removed the galls and poured 10% bleach over the root crowns and surrounding soil. They recommend removing the infected soil, but this was not feasible for me.

Root crown after the galls were removed

Results

After 30 days in March, all the plum hybrids have leafed out and flowered. The Flavor Delight aprium and Spice Zee nectaplum currently have a few baby fruits. The Flavor Grenade pluot and Flavor Punch pluerry would have fruits if it was not for the recent hail storm in Houston. Except for the Flavor King pluot, the other trees are growing vigorously. The Flavor King is looking quite weak and might not make it. The struggle of gardening is real here in the South.

Flavor Delight aprium, still grows vigorously 30 days after treatment

Flavor King pluot, looks weak 30 days after treatment

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