Gardeners can help scientists tackle a virulent disease of pear trees that appears to be spreading across the country.
Pear rust fungus (Gymnosporangium sabinae) is at its worst from August to October, and in an attempt to discover the damage it is causing Tree Watch and the RHS have launched a survey.
The survey is asking people to adopt a pear tree over the coming months and observe it for signs of pear rust fungus, which cover leaves in bright reddish-orange spots and was previously rare in the UK.
Béatrice Henricot, RHS principal scientist in plant pathology, said: "Even though this fungus causes striking bright orange spots, our knowledge of the distribution of it is limited.
"We are not sure whether this increase in enquiries is due to suitable weather conditions caused by environmental changes, an increased awareness of the fungus, or perhaps it is just part of the natural cycle of this disease."
Volunteers are being asked to mark a tree's location on an online map and record details such as girth and age, and participants can use a downloadable field guide to identify if and when it develops signs of infection.
Hi I will like to report my tree has pear rust fungus.
Posted by: Arebrahim1973@yahoo.com | Sep 24, 2016 at 02:36 PM
Toton NG9 6EY the red spots have appeared on my pear tree, only planted last year, so a young one. The spots are thicker underneath, with a thick fleshy growth, like a canker, so maybe something different, an insect attack maybe.
Posted by: Mrs Elizabeth Mattthews | Oct 14, 2016 at 03:20 PM
Convinced our old pear tree has rust....large bright yellow spots and clusters of canker like stuff. We live in South Greater London
Posted by: anthea | Oct 28, 2016 at 04:07 PM
I purchased a flowering pear tree from Lowes in Bethpage, NY. It had a few orange spots. They said it was nothing. Now that the tree has been planted and watered for a couple of weeks tge orange spots are throughout the tree and on every leaf. Terrible!
Posted by: John Doe | Jun 08, 2017 at 03:37 AM
I live I'm Mount Wolf Pa and just noticed pear rust on my tree, I just planted it about 3 months ago
Posted by: Tammy Yarnell | Jun 11, 2017 at 07:24 PM
We live in Bergen County, New Jersey. Our Bradford Pear tree is over 20 years old, and is taller than our three story house. It get plenty of sunshine all day long. In comparing the pictures online with the leaves on our tree I would say our tree definitely has rust fungus. This is the first time we've seen anything like this. The tree is usually very healthy. Is there anything that can be done?
Posted by: Robin Perine | Jun 25, 2017 at 11:31 PM
Our pear tree has rust fungus only planted this year we live in Norwich Norfolk
Posted by: Charlie turner | Sep 02, 2017 at 06:14 PM
My pear trees have the rust fungus again this year, it started several years ago on my Williams, that seems to have died. The Conference has now got it, but the Pears are OK. I live near Ely Cambridgeshire.
Posted by: Roland Barker | Sep 05, 2017 at 02:19 PM
We have a pear tree with the rust fungus showing just this year . The tree is about 35 years old and seems quite healthy,fruit was plentiful in spring but very little now.Our location is Guelph Ont Canada.Would like to know if a remedy is available ?.
Posted by: john cummings | Sep 06, 2017 at 01:48 PM
Kitchener/Waterloo border westside. Rust on both the Anjou and Bartlett trees.
Posted by: Phillip Colins | Oct 04, 2017 at 05:06 AM
I saw pear rust on three young trees in Tulse Hill SW2 London UK today.
Posted by: Vinnie O’connell | Aug 08, 2018 at 01:49 AM
I live Sidcup blackfen da158py
This year is the worst year of the orange spots
Posted by: Emin | Sep 08, 2018 at 09:17 PM
I am wondering if there is any treatment of this deases of the orange spots on pear trees
Posted by: Emin | Sep 08, 2018 at 09:18 PM
Our old pear tree over 30 years old has recently shown signs of rust mite. We are in Gillingham, Kent.
Posted by: Clare | Sep 23, 2018 at 10:22 AM
Pear rust on pear tree noticed today no pears this year tree over 30 years old
Sylvia Horton Weston Drive Tipton Westmidlands DY40AE.
Posted by: Sylvia horton | Sep 24, 2018 at 09:37 PM
red spot appeared on my 3 year old pear tree 24 9 2018
Posted by: m gilbey | Sep 26, 2018 at 06:02 PM
My 3 year old tree was full of these orange canker spots. Have chopped most of it down and burnt it as assumed it was a virulent virus which could ruin other trees and bushes near it. 1 pear. Last year there were a few diseased leaves which i contained by cutting k off. West London
Posted by: K Tatchley | Sep 28, 2018 at 12:14 AM
you can some pictures of the pear rust here https://www.wildlifebytes.co.uk/viewtopic.php?p=4865#p4865 with a link for more interesting info about the life of the pear rust on other hosts
Posted by: john Boyd | Sep 30, 2018 at 01:59 PM