Phytophthora root rot continues to be one of the leading causes of crop loss. Although Phytophthora is a more common issue in the spring, it can occur throughout the almond season, including harvest. This issue tends to be more severe in areas with high-water retaining soils in comparison to sandier soils due to poor natural drainage.

Here are 4 tips to optimize tree health through almond harvest:

1. Manage water usage. Do not allow water to stand around the crowns of trees. Provide drainage to low spots of the orchard, areas that are prone to flooding and where water penetration is poor throughout the entire season.
2. Know the signs. Phytophthora damage symptoms include poor tree vigor, loss of top branches, gumming or bleeding around the tree trunk, and sometimes the tree’s surrounding soil can have a “rotten egg” smell. This smell is not caused by the disease, but it is caused by excessive soil moisture.
3. Take a soil sample. Syngenta offers the Soil Pathogen Assessment (SPA), a free program that assesses Phytophthora Contact your Syngenta representative to learn more about soil sampling through the SPA program.
4. Prepare with a fungicide application. Ridomil Gold® SL fungicide can protect against root rot and increase feeder root growth to ensure better water and nutrient use efficiency. Ridomil Gold SL is suggested to apply in early spring and fall for protection.

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