Common Meyer Lemon Tree Diseases

December 12, 2018

Meyer Lemon Tree

Is your Meyer lemon tree sick? Discover some of the most common Meyer lemon tree diseases below.

Citrus trees are absolutely beautiful and one of the most popular is the Meyer lemon tree.

Meyer Lemon Tree

Once you taste your first homegrown lemon — sweet enough to eat whole with salt — you’ll never go back!

Most Popular Lemon in the Rio Grande Valley: Down in South Texas, it’s known simply as the “Valley Lemon,” because it’s that beloved.

A Natural Hybrid (Part Mandarin, Part Lemon): It’s sweeter, less acidic, and more fragrant than any standard lemon.

Edible Like an Orange: This fruit is mild enough to eat with just a sprinkle of salt.

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If you currently have or are looking to add lemon trees to your garden or landscaping, you want to make sure that you know how to properly care for and protect them. Even citrus trees aren't immune to disease.

If you're worried that your Meyer lemon tree may be sick, you need to check out some of the most common Meyer lemon tree diseases that occur and what you can do about them.

Common Signs Your Meyer Lemon Tree May Be Diseased

Unusual spots, scabs, or growths on leaves, fruit, or bark
Yellowing, shriveling, or falling leaves
Mold, fungus, or sticky residue on the tree or soil

Below are some of the most common Meyer lemon tree diseases that occur and what you can do about them.

Once you taste your first homegrown lemon — sweet enough to eat whole with salt — you’ll never go back!

Most Popular Lemon in the Rio Grande Valley: Down in South Texas, it’s known simply as the “Valley Lemon,” because it’s that beloved.

A Natural Hybrid (Part Mandarin, Part Lemon): It’s sweeter, less acidic, and more fragrant than any standard lemon.

Edible Like an Orange: This fruit is mild enough to eat with just a sprinkle of salt.

Join thousands of backyard growers who’ve made the switch from sad grocery lemons to fresh Meyer lemons!

Citrus Scab

Does your lemon tree have areas that look like warts or scabs? It could be infected by one of the common Meyers lemon tree diseases: citrus scab. Citrus scab attacks the leaves, twigs, and fruit of the lemon tree.

These citrus scab pustules can spread quickly. Trees are most vulnerable during the first three months following the fall of their blossoms. It's important to protect the trees during this time. Applying a copper fungicide regularly during this time will help protect the lemon tree.

Anthracnose

Anthracnose is a lemon disease that may affect your Meyer Lemon Tree. This disease causes the leaves to shrivel and turn dark in color. In just a few days after infection, anthracnose can turn a healthy, beautiful tree into a mess.

To control the spread, destroy any infected leaves and prune away any dead or damaged limbs.

Armillaria Root Rot

A common Meyer Lemon Tree disease is Armillaria root rot. Symptoms of this disease include yellowing leaves, a gradual decline in foliage, and white fungal growths under the bark that may produce an unpleasant odor.

Depending on how early the Meyer Lemon Tree is diagnosed with Armillaria root rot, it may not be possible to save the tree. Once honey-colored mushrooms appear on the bark, the disease is usually too advanced to treat.

Botrytis fungus

After Meyer Lemon Trees are exposed to long periods of rain, they can become susceptible to a disease called botrytis fungus. This disease appears as gray mold and can spread very quickly if not treated in time.

Wounded Meyer Lemon Trees are more likely to be affected, so be sure you’re taking proper care when pruning or handling the plant. Remove any infected areas immediately and thoroughly clean tools and surrounding surfaces between trees to prevent the infection from spreading to other plants.

Phytophthora Fungus

Another Meyer lemon tree disease to look out for is Phytophthora fungus. This fungus causes gummosis which is presented as a gummy presence on the surfaces of the lemon tree.

Phytophthora fungus lives in the soil. You will need to remove all infected fruit and leaves from both the tree and those that have fallen off the tree. You will want to follow up with a fungicide to further protect the tree from more damage.

Get Educated on Lemon Tree Diseases

If you have or plan on having lemon trees, it's important to be educated on lemon tree diseases. You should know how to treat and even prevent these types of diseases so that your trees will thrive.

Growing Trees is fun, and every tree we send comes with a 20-page care guide.

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SUMMARY

The post outlines common diseases that can affect Meyer lemon trees, including citrus scab, anthracnose, root rot, botrytis, and Phytophthora. It stresses early detection, proper care, and timely treatment to keep trees healthy and productive.

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Frequently Asked Questions

1. What are the most common diseases that affect Meyer lemon trees?

Common Meyer lemon tree diseases include citrus scab, anthracnose, Armillaria root rot, Botrytis fungus, and Phytophthora. These diseases can affect the leaves, fruit, branches, roots, or bark and may cause symptoms such as spots, yellowing leaves, fungal growth, gumming, or declining foliage.

2. How can you tell if a Meyer lemon tree is diseased?

Common signs of disease include unusual spots, scabs, or growths on leaves and fruit, yellowing or falling leaves, shriveled foliage, mold, fungal growth, sticky residue, and declining branches. Early identification can make disease management easier.

3. What does citrus scab look like on a Meyer lemon tree?

Citrus scab typically appears as raised, wart-like or scab-like lesions on the leaves, twigs, and fruit. Meyer lemon trees are particularly vulnerable during the period following blossom drop, so monitoring new growth and developing fruit is important.

4. How do you treat citrus scab on a Meyer lemon tree?

Management of citrus scab generally involves protecting susceptible new growth and fruit with an appropriate copper-based fungicide according to its label directions. Good sanitation and removing severely affected plant material can also help reduce disease pressure.

5. What are the symptoms of anthracnose on Meyer lemon trees?

Anthracnose can cause leaves to shrivel and turn dark, while dead or damaged branches may also develop symptoms. If anthracnose is suspected, remove infected leaves and prune affected dead or damaged wood using clean tools to reduce the opportunity for spread.

6. What is Armillaria root rot, and can a Meyer lemon tree survive it?

Armillaria root rot is a serious fungal disease that attacks the roots and can cause yellowing leaves, gradual foliage decline, and white fungal growth beneath the bark. Once honey-colored mushrooms appear around the tree, the infection is often advanced and difficult to control.

7. What causes Botrytis fungus on Meyer lemon trees?

Botrytis is more likely to develop when Meyer lemon trees experience prolonged periods of wet or rainy conditions, particularly when the plant has wounds. It can appear as gray mold and spread rapidly. Removing infected material and improving sanitation can help limit its spread.

8. What are the signs of Phytophthora disease in Meyer lemon trees?

Phytophthora can cause gummosis, characterized by gummy material appearing on affected areas of the tree. Because Phytophthora is soil-associated, managing drainage, removing infected plant material, and following appropriate disease-control practices are important.

9. How can I prevent diseases on my Meyer lemon tree?

You can reduce disease risk by maintaining good drainage, avoiding prolonged wet conditions, removing diseased leaves and fruit, pruning carefully, disinfecting pruning tools, and maintaining good air circulation. Regularly inspecting leaves, fruit, branches, and soil also helps identify problems early.

10. When should I be concerned about my Meyer lemon tree?

You should investigate promptly if your Meyer lemon tree develops rapidly yellowing or falling leaves, dark or shriveled foliage, wart-like fruit or leaf lesions, gray mold, unusual fungal growth, or gummy areas on the bark. Early diagnosis and appropriate treatment can improve the chances of protecting the tree.

About the Author

Ron Skaria, MD

Ron Skaria is the son of Dr. Mani. He trained as a medical doctor at Baylor College of Medicine, did his residency at UT Health Science Center - San Antonio and fellowship training at Texas Tech University. He now works full time on the family farm at US Citrus and US Citrus Nursery in Hargill, Texas, building Dr. Mani's Magic alongside his dad. He wrote the Brown Thumb Field Guide to put his father's 48 years of plant science into plain words any gardener can use. His belief is simple. You never had a brown thumb. You just never had the right help.