Help track the spread of pear rust fungus

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.

Comments

[Arebrahim1973@yahoo.com]

Hi I will like to report my tree has pear rust fungus.

[Mrs Elizabeth Mattthews]

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.

[anthea]

Convinced our old pear tree has rust....large bright yellow spots and clusters of canker like stuff. We live in South Greater London

[John Doe]

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!

[Tammy Yarnell]

I live I'm Mount Wolf Pa and just noticed pear rust on my tree, I just planted it about 3 months ago

[Robin Perine]

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?

[Charlie turner]

Our pear tree has rust fungus only planted this year we live in Norwich Norfolk

[Roland Barker]

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.

[john cummings]

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 ?.

[Phillip Colins]

Kitchener/Waterloo border westside. Rust on both the Anjou and Bartlett trees.

[Vinnie O’connell]

I saw pear rust on three young trees in Tulse Hill SW2 London UK today.

[Emin]

I live Sidcup blackfen da158py
This year is the worst year of the orange spots

[Emin]

I am wondering if there is any treatment of this deases of the orange spots on pear trees

[Clare]

Our old pear tree over 30 years old has recently shown signs of rust mite. We are in Gillingham, Kent.

[Sylvia horton]

Pear rust on pear tree noticed today no pears this year tree over 30 years old
Sylvia Horton Weston Drive Tipton Westmidlands DY40AE.

[m gilbey]

red spot appeared on my 3 year old pear tree 24 9 2018

[K Tatchley]

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

[john Boyd]

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