Why Does My Atemoya Tree Look Sickly?

Do the leaves have spots or blotches?

Do the crowns and roots have a dark, water-soaked appearance that spreads to petioles and leaves?

Are the leaves yellowing, wilting and, dying?

Do the leaves and stems have white, cottony clusters on them?

Are the leaves covered with small bumps?

Your plants are suffering from fungal leaf spot. These can come from several fungus diseases, causing spots to occur on foliage. Spots may enlarge rapidly, especially in wet weather. Destroy infected leaves or plants. Spray plants with sulfur to prevent the disease from spreading, especially if the weather is wet. Spray between rains. Prevent problems by thinning plants to provide good air circulation.

These symptoms indicate fungal disease Phytophthora Crown Rot. Young plants die quickly. It can manifest around the base of the trunk. Gum will ooze out of the bottom of the trunk and the upper crown roots. To treat, carefully remove the bark and rot, then wipe the area down with a wet towel to be sure you’ve removed it all. Apply copper fungicide on the damaged parts and stay watchful to make sure it does not return.

Yellow leaves that wilt and die usually indicate Root rot. Several pathogens cause root rots of seedlings as well as mature plants. Poorly drained, overly wet soil promotes rot so choose well-drained sites and add organic matter to improve drainage. Remove and destroy infected plants. Solarize the soil before replanting.

White, cottony clusters on leaves and stems are caused by mealybugs. The citrus mealybug, Planococcus citri, is one of the most common pests for this plant. These tiny insects are covered with a fluffy white coating. They feed by sucking plants sap. They produce sticky substance honeydew which makes leaves sticky. You can control them by washing them off the plant with water spray. Insecticidal soap should be used with severe infestations.

Leaves covered by small bumps are caused by scales. White and pink wax scale and brown olive scale are the most common. These tiny, shelled insects often feed on the undersides of the leaves, causing an unhealthy appearance with yellowish blotches on the upper leaf surfaces. Scrape off minor infestations with your fingernail. Prune out badly infested growth, or use a soft brush and soapy water to gently scrub the scales off the stems. Control scales by spraying insecticidal oil during the growing season.

Atemoya is susceptible to a condition known as “little leaf”, where it produces leaf sizes that are smaller than average. This is not a disease but is instead a zinc deficiency. Foliar spraying will remedy this issue and improve the growth of future leaves.