Before you talk about whether scab on apples is dangerous for a person or not, you need to understand the essence of this disease of the fruit. The disease in our latitudes is quite common, its pathogen is a pathogenic fungus. It affects not only the fruits, but also the leaves of the branch.
The presence of this disease will adversely affect tree productivity. However, some gardeners believe that the affected fruits can still be eaten. But here you should turn to specialists to understand whether it is possible to eat infected apples this fungus.
Important! The scab appears on the fruits in the form of protruding dark dots, often brown. Over time, the points increase in size and, if the fruits are not collected and used, the apple will simply rot. There may not be a serious damage to the fruit of an infected tree, and the fungus manifests itself only by lonely rashes on the fruits, so can they be eaten?
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Scab on apples is dangerous for humans and why
It is worth mentioning right away that the answer to this question is controversial and unanimous opinion, unfortunately, does not exist. Gardeners are sure that such apples can be eaten and harvested for the winter, they will not bring any problems for human health. However, in the medical literature sometimes there is information that these apples can destroy the gums and enamel, and the fungus, once it enters the human body, negatively affects the digestive system.
Important! Doctors do not recommend eating contaminated apples fresh. However, there is no concrete and strict prohibition here.
Recent studies show that such fruits contain toxins. Let their dose be minimal, but still they cause harm to the human body and, of course, the more apples you eat, the more dangerous the consequences may be in the end. Toxins can accumulate in the body and lead to various diseases.
Substances that are contained in infected apples and are of a minimal degree of toxicity when accumulated in the body can cause acute damage to the skin, mucous membranes, adversely affect the cornea of the eyes.
If we consider the rules that apply in Western Europe, then it is strictly forbidden to eat apples and other fruits affected by scab. Such fruits are immediately discarded, and infected fruit trees are treated, and if they cannot be cured, they are destroyed. Knowing what the scab looks like and how dangerous it is, the buyer can choose only healthy and high-quality apples. To do this, it is enough to conduct a visual inspection, on the peel should not be dark convex and rough to the touch spots.
Dentists also speak negatively about apples that are infected, even to a minimal degree. Moreover, for the health of the clove, it is not recommended to eat the ripened fruits of acidic varieties too often. Because, malic acids actively destroy tooth enamel, which leads to such a common problem in modern society as caries.
How to reduce fruit toxicity
Of course, gardeners who looked after their crops with such trepidation and care, it is difficult to take and select all the affected apples. In such situations, I would like to know if there are any ways to reduce the toxicity of the fruit, if the scab infection is negligible.
There is no comforting information, the toxins that secrete the fungus do not decay during heat treatment. Therefore, canning, making jams or preserves will not make such fruits healthier. If the disease has spread greatly, you need to destroy the entire crop of this year and try to cure the tree so that next season the fruits can already be eaten.
About treatment and prevention
If appropriate prophylaxis is carried out, then the development of this disease will be avoided. This is much more effective than trying to cure a tree later. Spring required mandatory garden treatment antifungal fungicides. When buying planting material, do this only with trusted gardeners.
Be sure to carry out high-quality pruning of trees in the spring, to ensure proper watering. The treatment will be long, here again treatment will be required when a fungicide from a fungus based on copper preparations is used. Alternatively, for the treatment of trees for scab, you can use a solution of iron sulfate 5%.
Important! If such treatment is carried out, it is likely that the scab does not spread to fruits and it will be possible to use apples from this year's crop for food and for preservation.
So, scab is a common garden fungal disease and very often it affects the apple trees. If you do not start to treat the affected tree, then the fungus will eventually spread to the fruits and they will be unsuitable for food. In Western Europe, apples affected by scab are completely banned from sale. In our country, there is no such a strict ban, but the fungus secretes toxic substances into the fruits, which, accumulating in the body, can lead to the development of various diseases.
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