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Tongues of Fire

Tongues of Fire lives on pear trees and junipers, among others.

Do not confuse with:
Pear blister mite

recognize Tongues of Fire
Tongues of Fire on juniper, photo: Velella - CC BY-SA 3.0

Tongues of Fire (Gymnosporangium clavariiforme). Tongues of Fire is a plant disease caused by pathogenic fungi of the class of rusts (Pucciniales). Tongues of Fire lives on the pear tree and juniper. Tongues of Fire overwinters in the juniper where the spores are also formed. The roots of Tongues of Fire penetrate the juniper and affect the tree. Orange tentacle-shaped fungi form on the branches. The wind blows the spores on pear trees. In pears, Tongues of Fire causes yellow spots with orange edges on the leaves, growing into an orange bump.
Despite the obvious connection between juniper and pear trees, Tongues of Fire also occurs where the two trees are not in each other’s vicinity.

Tongues of Fire on leaf of pear tree, photo: Yvonne van Bergen

Where to find

Control

If possible, remove the affected parts of the juniper. These can be recognized by the thickened and orange-colored branches.
Remove infested pear tree leaves.

Prevention

Do not plant junipers near pear, hawthorn and quince. Remove any diseased junipers nearby (< 0.5 km).

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