{"id":349,"date":"2026-08-12T19:03:28","date_gmt":"2026-08-12T18:03:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.coltivobio.com\/en\/?p=349"},"modified":"2026-08-12T19:03:28","modified_gmt":"2026-08-12T18:03:28","slug":"silver-leaf-of-plum-and-stone-fruits","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.coltivobio.com\/en\/silver-leaf-of-plum-and-stone-fruits\/","title":{"rendered":"Silver leaf of plum and other stone fruits: symptoms, life cycle and control"},"content":{"rendered":"

Silver leaf, also known as lead disease or silver leaf<\/em>, is a fungal disease caused mainly by Chondrostereum purpureum<\/em>. It can affect numerous tree species, but it is particularly important on stone fruits and especially on plum.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\ud83d\udcf7 Original photos from the field<\/strong>
\nThe images in this article are original photographs taken personally during monitoring and field observation activities. The symptoms shown therefore refer to real cases observed directly on crops.<\/p>\n

identification and damage<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

The most characteristic symptom is the appearance of a typical silvery or leaden colour of the leaves<\/strong>. Initially, the phenomenon may affect only some branches, and then progressively spread to other parts of the canopy.<\/p>\n

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Plum leaves with the typical silvery colour caused by silver leaf. Note, for comparison, a healthy leaf.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The silvery colour is a consequence of the alteration of the leaf tissues caused by the activity of the fungus. Small air-filled spaces form between the cell layers, modifying the reflection of light and giving the leaf its characteristic silvery appearance.
\nThe fungus mainly colonises the wood<\/strong>, where it can cause alterations and browning of the tissues. By cutting through an affected branch, it is therefore possible to observe alterations in the internal colour of the wood, a useful element to support the diagnosis.
\nAs the disease progresses, reduced vigour, dieback of branches and limbs, and progressive decline of the plant<\/strong> may occur. The characteristic fruiting bodies of Chondrostereum purpureum<\/em>, generally violet in colour, may also appear on dead or severely affected wood.
\nIt is important to remember that the presence of silvery leaves does not necessarily indicate an infection by Chondrostereum<\/em>. There is also a false silver leaf<\/strong>, of physiological origin, in which similar leaf symptoms are observed without colonisation of the wood by the fungus.<\/p>\n

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Comparison between a healthy leaf, on the left, and one affected by silver leaf, on the right. In addition to the characteristic silvery colour, affected leaves may have jagged margins that tend to break.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

life cycle<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

Chondrostereum purpureum<\/em> survives in infected and dead wood<\/strong>, on which it can produce its fruiting bodies.
\nUnder conditions of high humidity, these release large quantities of basidiospores<\/strong>, which are transported mainly by the wind and can reach new plants.
\nInfection occurs mainly through fresh wounds in the wood<\/strong>, including those caused by pruning operations. Once it has entered the plant, the fungus progressively colonises the woody tissues and can spread along limbs and branches.
\nRain, high humidity and the presence of recent wounds therefore represent particularly favourable conditions for new infections.<\/p>\n

<\/a>
\"\"<\/div><\/div>
Plum fruit moth: everything you need to know about effective control<\/div>
the plum fruit moth, currently classified as Grapholita funebrana The larvae penetrate the fruits (plums), where they feed on the flesh, causing direct damage to production<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n

control and prevention<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

The management of silver leaf is mainly preventive<\/strong>, since once Chondrostereum purpureum<\/em> has colonised the wood, there are no fungicide treatments capable of effectively eliminating the infection from the internal tissues.
\nIt is essential to reduce the risk of infection during pruning<\/strong>, avoiding, whenever possible, making cuts during rainy periods or periods characterised by high humidity, when spore production and dispersal can be high.
\nClearly affected limbs must be removed by cutting back to healthy wood<\/strong>. In the case of severely affected plants, where the infection has reached the main structures, complete removal of the plant may be necessary.
\nInfected or dead woody material should not be left in the orchard, as it can become an important source of spore production and spread<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

<\/a>
\"\"<\/div><\/div>
Plum Rust Mites: Symptoms, Damage and Control<\/div>
Eriophyid mites include several species of extremely small mites that can cause a characteristic bronzing of the foliage. As the infestation develops, leaves gradually lose their normal green colour and may become bronze, dark or appear scorched.<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Silver leaf, also known as lead disease or silver leaf, is a fungal disease caused mainly by Chondrostereum purpureum. It can affect numerous tree species, but it is particularly important on stone fruits and especially on plum. \ud83d\udcf7 Original photos from the field The images in this article are original photographs taken personally during monitoring<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12,"featured_media":7915,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-349","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-fungal-diseases"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t