Help, fuzzy scion wood

9 years ago

Hi all,

I got apple scions from ARS last week and was very excited to see great pieces and probably more than I needed. I looked it all over and some of the buds at the top of one set of scions looked a little fuzzy, but I didn't suspect mildew or mold. I had seen some types of apple varieties that have buds that look a little whitish/fuzzy naturally on some other apple trees and thought that is just how some varieties looked. Based on what others had said about the ARS wood appearing to be treated or at least holding up well, I put the bag right into a fridge to avoid introducing anything else into the bags. I expect my root stock in early March.

Well I just looked at them and there is a lot more fuzzy looking stuff and it is on many of the scions, although at varying amounts. What are my best options at this point? Should I just wipe it all down with water with some bleach and put it back in and check regularly? Or now that I see mold is it all suspect and are the buds possibly damaged? Have I now put my grafting success in pretty big jeopardy? I'm particularly worried that even if I keep after them with the clorox and water, whatever hope I have of them surviving is pretty diminished once they're wrapped under parafilm and the mold or mildew can run rampant.

I did think that maybe I should cut away parts that seemed clear and put those in a separate bag after treating them, but I assumed they would already have spores as well.

They are all crabs, including some obscure ones. I've included a picture below.

One other note is that I checked that fridge and it was only at 48 or so, so I'll also put it at the coldest temp, but I'm sure that didn't help the situation.

Thanks for any insight.

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Comments (10)

Konrad___far_north
9 years ago
That looks pretty normal, all looks good. For storing over a long period, you can wash them with bleach/soap, then rinse, seal ends, put in plastic bag with some moist, [not wet] paper towel and store in fridge.
murkwell
9 years ago
Those look normal and healthy.
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Scott F Smith
9 years ago
That fuzzy stuff is some kind of yeast bloom I think, like the dull stuff on the fruit that you wipe off before eating the apple. Its harmless. I also have found I have gotten a lot of it on Geneva apple cuttings, but not usually from other places. Who knows why...

Scott
zendog
Original Author
9 years ago
Okay, so it sounds like I can stop freaking out. Thanks everyone.

So my plan is to wash them all in 10% bleach/90% water plus a little dish soap, rinse them off, then re-bag them into a separate bag for each variety in case there are any problems down the road. And I'll include a damp, not wet paper towel in each bag loosely wrapped around the scions. Good plan?
bob_z6
9 years ago
That sounds like a good plan. I had the same bloom on one of my ARS apples last year (Court Pendu Rose) and was able to graft it successfully, though it had me scared because it was so late to leaf out. I think that is due to the variety, more than the bloom. I did try to wash it off with Clorox wipes a few times during storage, but it comes back and I'm not sure how much of a difference I made.

Make sure you aren't storing fruit in the same fridge. It gives off ethylene gas, which can ruin the scionwood. I used to have apples in my 2nd fridge, then aired it out a bit before I started storing wood. But, even so, I'm concerned enough about residue to double-bag everything (several zip-locks inside a big trash bag).

I've got a thermometer in the fridge and check it every so often. It was too high 1-2 weeks ago, at 38-39. I've tweaked it to be around 33-34.
Scott F Smith
9 years ago
If you want to permanently get it off take a soft brush with dish soap and brush in the bottom-up direction on each scion (bottom-up makes sure you don't damage the buds by catching one, not so much an issue on most apple scions). Rinse well. This is also what I do when mold appears - a good cleaning like this will set the mold back severely.

Scott
windfall_rob
9 years ago
There have been times when I have recieved (or found in the back of the fridge) scion that's. Pretty darn moldy. I have grafted some and it generally is ok.
I'm sure the mold is damaging, and at some point scion lose viability, but I wouldn't panic or toss them(unless I had better) if they get fuzzy.
fruitnut Z7 4500ft SW TX
9 years ago
I don't think that fuzz is mold, yeast, or vermin of any kind. I'd say it's the normal protective material on new wood. It occurs here just as much as in a humid climate.
plumfan
9 years ago
I've used 25% Listerine in water for a cleaning fluid, along with an old, soft toothbrush. They were some scions whose graft had failed over summer and was held in the frig crisper drawer till the following spring, some 15 months after being cut from the mother tree.

Listerine contains thymol, an antifungal agent. Might use Kocide next time. That sounds potent too.

Oh, and the graft with 15 month wood worked just fine!
johnnysapples
9 years ago
I have had it on certain varieties before. I think it's normal. Mine took well.