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Citrus General Discussion / Re: Meyers Lemon Tree
« on: February 24, 2022, 02:42:21 PM »
If as you say this is a grafted tree then it seems the graft is very near ground level or below ground.
This means that it has been planted much too deep. The graft line should always be well clear of the ground so rain reaching the ground does not splash dirt on to the trunk and cause infection. That is one of the reasons for having a rootstock which is less susceptible to phytophthora than the top variety.
I think that the darker and slightly sunken area just below the main forking branches may be a sign of phytophthora infection.
If it is phytophthora and it has completely circled the trunk, there is little hope for the tree.
A really valuable tree could possibly be saved by grafting new rootstocks above the infection - a process called inarching.
This was carried out on the Parent Washington Navel tree in Riverside. See my photos at
http://www.homecitrusgrowers.co.uk/riverside/parentwashingtonnavel.html
This means that it has been planted much too deep. The graft line should always be well clear of the ground so rain reaching the ground does not splash dirt on to the trunk and cause infection. That is one of the reasons for having a rootstock which is less susceptible to phytophthora than the top variety.
I think that the darker and slightly sunken area just below the main forking branches may be a sign of phytophthora infection.
If it is phytophthora and it has completely circled the trunk, there is little hope for the tree.
A really valuable tree could possibly be saved by grafting new rootstocks above the infection - a process called inarching.
This was carried out on the Parent Washington Navel tree in Riverside. See my photos at
http://www.homecitrusgrowers.co.uk/riverside/parentwashingtonnavel.html