Plant necrosis is the premature death of cells caused by injury or destruction of plant tissue or cells caused by their own enzymes (autolysis).
You may also hear this condition called leaf spot disease, damping off, or several other names applied to plant death caused by a viral, bacterial, or fungal infection.
This type of condition leads to yellowing, browning and blackening of certain parts of the plant, which is mainly seen on the leaves.
Deficiencies of essential elements such as calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), copper (Cu) and potassium (K) are often associated with necrosis in plants.
In this article, we share smart tips to help you recognize and get rid of plant necrosis. Read on to find out more.
What causes plant leaf spot disease and how to prevent it
Top 10 tips for preventing plant necrosis
Plant necrosis is challenging, but not impossible to prevent and treat. To prevent leaf spot disease and maintain healthy plant growth, follow these ten tips:
1. Remove fallen leaves before the first frost in order to prevent pathogens from overwintering and infecting plants in the spring.
2. Don’t overcrowd your plants. Always consider mature plant size as a guide for spacing when planting.
3. Keep your trees and shrubs properly trimmed to improve air circulation and light penetration.
4. Avoid overhead watering with a soaker or drip hose. Water the base of the trees to avoid wetting the leaves.
5. Never allow the soil to become too wet or too dry. Keep the soil moist throughout the growing season by letting the soil almost dry out before watering again.
6. Apply a 3- to 4-inch layer of mulch around the trees and in garden beds to keep the soil evenly moist. Avoid direct contact with plant stems and tree trunks.
7. Apply fresh mulch each year to maintain a good thick level of protection.
8. Refrain from fertilizing trees and plants affected by leaf spot diseases unless soil testing recommends nutrient correction.
9. Use fungicides sparingly as a preventive measure. For example, if your tree gets powdery mildew or sooty mold in the summer, lightly apply a fungicide before symptoms appear on the leaves.
10. Consider hiring a professional arborist for the treatment of spotting on large trees.
What causes plant necrosis?
Plant viruses, bacteria, poor conditions and several different nutrient deficiencies can lead to plant necrosis.
Lack of potassium most often causes chlorosis, which leads to tissue death. Other nutrient deficiencies can also cause this problem.
For example, calcium deficiency can slow plant growth, and magnesium deficiency can also cause plant necrosis. A deficiency of any of these nutrients can cause necrosis, which mainly affects the leaf tissue of plants.
Basics of plant diseases: Symptoms of necrotic spots
How can you tell the difference between necrosis and chlorosis?
Chlorosis and necrosis are very different plant conditions. Chlorosis is caused by a lack of iron in the soil or the inability of plants to access iron.
When this happens, the plant’s chlorophyll is broken down or its production is disrupted. This interferes with photosynthesis and causes yellow leaves.
On the other hand, necrosis causes the plant tissue to become dry and brown to black. This usually occurs along the edges of the leaf and then spreads throughout the body of the leaf.
How can you tell the difference between necrosis and fungus?
Gas includes yellowing, browning and dramatic changes in plant vigor.
It is characterized by very rapid yellowing, browning and decay of leaves, shoots, stems and flowers of plants. This is followed quickly by the overall death of the plant.
Necrosis is cell death that causes browning or blackening of certain areas of the plant rather than the entire plant.
Necrotic diseases of plants
Can you treat necrosis on plants?
Different triggers can cause necrotic plant diseases and affect any plant, so treatment success can vary widely.
In general, it is better to prevent this problem than to try to treat it, but in some cases there are treatments.
For example, in the case of necrotic spot on apple leaves, it is possible to treat the trees to alleviate the symptoms. However, treatment will not cure the disorder.
Necrotic leaf spot is a physiological disorder affecting Golden Delicious apple trees and bud sports (crosses or mutations). This disorder causes medium to large, irregular necrotic lesions on mature tree leaves in mid to late summer.
When this happens, the affected tissues turn yellow and the leaves drop. Regular application of zinc oxide every two weeks from the time buds first appear until harvest can alleviate symptoms.
To manage this condition, you can treat trees with fungicides that contain zinc or foliar sprays that contain zinc nutrients before symptoms appear or as soon as possible. This can help reduce the severity of symptoms.
Good plant care is the best prevention for necrosis
The best way to avoid plant necrosis and a wide variety of other plant problems is simply to give your plants, trees and shrubs what they need to thrive.
Remember to research the requirements of each plant you add to your collection to ensure you provide it with the right light, temperature, water, soil and nutrients for success.
Keep a close eye on your garden so you can address potential problems before they become overwhelming.
Follow these tips to protect your plants from necrosis and promote their overall health and growth.