Taphrina pruni
Taphrina pruni is a type of fungus that likes to live on trees, especially cherry and plum trees. This fungus is so small that you can't see it with your eyes, but it can still cause big changes in the trees it lives on.
When the Taphrina pruni spores (tiny particles) land on a tree, they start to grow and attach themselves to the leaves and other parts of the tree. This can happen when the wind carries the spores or when something, like an animal or a person, touches the fungus and then touches the tree.
Once the Taphrina pruni fungus settles on the tree, it starts to cause some problems. It makes the tree's leaves and other parts look really strange. Instead of being smooth and green, they become swollen and wrinkly. The leaves can also turn different colors, like yellow or even red. It may look like the tree has a funny disease, but it's actually just the fungus having some fun.
But why does the Taphrina pruni fungus do this? Well, the fungus likes to eat the tree's cells for food. When it attaches to the tree and starts growing, it sends out tiny tube-like structures called hyphae. These hyphae go into the tree's cells and take out all the good stuff, like sugar and water. This makes the cells of the tree swell up and become all wrinkly.
The fungus also releases some chemicals that change how the tree grows. These chemicals make the tree's cells divide and multiply in strange ways, causing the leaves to become deformed and change colors. It's like the fungus is giving the tree some instructions on how to look different.
This fungus doesn't just cause damage to the tree by making it look strange. The swollen and wrinkled leaves can also block the sunlight from reaching the lower parts of the tree. This means that the tree might not get enough energy from the sun to grow properly and be healthy.
The good news is that while the Taphrina pruni fungus might cause some temporary damage and make the tree look weird, it usually doesn't kill the tree. The tree can still survive and grow new leaves in the next season. Plus, there are ways to control the fungus, like using certain sprays that can kill the spores before they settle on the tree.
So, even though the Taphrina pruni fungus might make cherry and plum trees look funny, they can still keep growing and provide delicious fruits for us to enjoy.
When the Taphrina pruni spores (tiny particles) land on a tree, they start to grow and attach themselves to the leaves and other parts of the tree. This can happen when the wind carries the spores or when something, like an animal or a person, touches the fungus and then touches the tree.
Once the Taphrina pruni fungus settles on the tree, it starts to cause some problems. It makes the tree's leaves and other parts look really strange. Instead of being smooth and green, they become swollen and wrinkly. The leaves can also turn different colors, like yellow or even red. It may look like the tree has a funny disease, but it's actually just the fungus having some fun.
But why does the Taphrina pruni fungus do this? Well, the fungus likes to eat the tree's cells for food. When it attaches to the tree and starts growing, it sends out tiny tube-like structures called hyphae. These hyphae go into the tree's cells and take out all the good stuff, like sugar and water. This makes the cells of the tree swell up and become all wrinkly.
The fungus also releases some chemicals that change how the tree grows. These chemicals make the tree's cells divide and multiply in strange ways, causing the leaves to become deformed and change colors. It's like the fungus is giving the tree some instructions on how to look different.
This fungus doesn't just cause damage to the tree by making it look strange. The swollen and wrinkled leaves can also block the sunlight from reaching the lower parts of the tree. This means that the tree might not get enough energy from the sun to grow properly and be healthy.
The good news is that while the Taphrina pruni fungus might cause some temporary damage and make the tree look weird, it usually doesn't kill the tree. The tree can still survive and grow new leaves in the next season. Plus, there are ways to control the fungus, like using certain sprays that can kill the spores before they settle on the tree.
So, even though the Taphrina pruni fungus might make cherry and plum trees look funny, they can still keep growing and provide delicious fruits for us to enjoy.