Q. I am having a problem with my grapefruit tree. The
branches have some sap coming from them and the leaves are yellow.
Sap coming from the branches of grapefruit tree could be Rio Grande Gummosis Disease which developed from winter freezing injury. |
A. The yellowing of the leaves usually indicates the soil
is being kept too wet or a need for a specialty fertilizer such as iron.
This is what the tree looks like with gumming on some branches. Notice that one of the branches has a lot of yellow leaves. Damage to branches can also lead to micronutrient deficiencies. |
I saw the sap coming from a stem
in the picture you sent. This could be from a disease common to grapefruit that
have suffered freeze damage during the winter. It is called Rio Grande Gummosis disease which can occur
to grapefruit trees suffering from a past stress. A common stress is winter or
freezing damage.
Gum forms on the trunk or
branches and causes blisters on the trunk. If you cut into the branch or trunk
you can see pockets of gum under the bark. If you make a long cut into the wood
through the blistered area and into fresh wood you may see a pinkish
discoloration in the fresh wood.
Most likely the tree will
continue to decline if this is the case. I would remove the tree and find a
warmer spot to grow citrus that does not have much winter wind. Wind makes
winter freezing temperatures worse.
I would also make sure the soil
drains freely when water is applied and use wood chips as a surface mulch to
help keep the soil healthy.
You can read more about this disease on grapefruit here from the University of Arizona and copied below.
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