Apple Tree Decline

Apple tree decline has been spreading in northern Italy for several years. The phenomenon, which began in some orchards in Trentino and Veneto regions, has spread to almost the entire Alpine arc and the pre-alpine belt. 

The problem of apple tree dieback mainly affects young plants and affects more or less extensive areas of the orchard. The plants initially show a slowdown in their vegetative functions, especially during the flowering and post-bloom phase, with browning along the stem, decortication and cracking, except below the graft point where there is often a high level of sucker emission. This is followed by partial or total desiccation of the plant, which can also occur during the fruit swelling and ripening phase. 

Replacing plants does not solve the problem of apple tree decline and almost always the new plants planted after a short time show the same symptoms again.

In the areas affected for the longest time, such as in Valsugana and Val di Non (Trentino region), in some orchards dryness has affected 80 per cent of the plants. 

Apple orchard severely affected by the mortality.

Cracking of the bark along the stem, a typical symptom preceding plant death.

Apple plant dried out during the fruit swelling phase. 

Re-establishment of an orchard with previous apple decline: the problem reappeared after a few months.