What Is Wrong With My Cocoplum?

Is there a large mass of small insects on host plants, usually covered in a thick layer of sooty mold?

Are the leaves notched?

Are there any orange, rusty pustules on leaves, stems, twigs, and fruit, the tissue is often seen swelling?

Are there any black, pimple-like fruiting structures or cankers on bark surfaces?

Lobate lac scales (Paratachdina pseudolobata) and the accompanying sooty mold deposits on leaves and stem are sometimes seen on cocoplum. Branch dieback can occur with heavy infestations, and in the most severe cases, extremely infested plants and small plants have died. 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.

The little leaf notcher (Artipus floridanus) makes shallow notches along the leaf blades sometimes so uniform that they appear to be natural leaf serration rather than feeding damage. The Sri Lanka weevil (Myllocerus undecimpustu-latus undatus) chews both shallow and deep notches along the leaf margins. The feeding pattern is very noticeable. Spray foliage of affected plants with neem insecticide, taking care to cover both sides of the leaves, two or three times at 7 to 10-day intervals to kill weevils that are feeding on the leaves.

Algal disease on cocoplum is caused by Cephaleuros virescens. The disease first appears as raised blotches or spots on the leaf surface. The blemishes are round, green to gray, and somewhat fuzzy or velvety. The green spots will turn reddish-brown with age, and, during periods of high humidity, may be confused for a rust disease. Wet and humid environments promote this disease. Algae is spread by water splash. Maintain proper irrigation, pruning, and fertilization regimes. Copper-based fungicides may be required to control the disease in severely infected plantations.

The first noticeable symptoms of Botryosphaeria canker and blight are yellow and premature leaf drop. Cankers eventually split and girdle stems, resulting in persistent dead leaves. Expanding cankers may kill all parts of the plants above the affected areas. Prune all infected branches back to unaffected tissues and immediately dispose of infected debris. Prevent spreading the botryosphaeria fungus further by soaking pruning tools in a mixture of one part bleach to nine parts water for at least 10 minutes between cuts.

If the leaves are covered in coarse stippling and may appear silvery the culprits are thrips. Thrips are tiny, yellow to black flying insects. They hide under the leaves. Severely infected plant parts should be removed and destroyed. Control thrips by introducing lady beetles or lacewings, their natural predators. Insecticidal soap helps in severe infestations.