Problem with Olive Trees

[Chris S]

Does anyone know what is wrong with my olive trees - see photo.
Is anyone else afflicted or am I exclusive.
Oh!  Photo doesn't seem to have loaded - can anyone tell me how to loada photo

Linkback: https://www.enjoykalkan.com/forum/index.php?topic=11835.0

[EK Moderator]

http://enjoykalkan.com/forum/index.php?topic=6394.0
This link should help you download a picture.

[Chris S]

Thanks EK Moderator, but the link brings up a post which appears 50% computer gobbldegook.

[Chris S]

Having googled problems with olive trees, I think the problem is a disease called Olive Knot which also apparently can affect and be mutually passed to/from Oleander.
Does anyone else have the problem and advice would be appreciated. Symptoms are a number of galls, about the size of a pea, but can become larger, apparently up to 50 mm dia., which appear mainly on the trunks and branches.

[Chris S]

A picture of the affected olive tree has now been uploaded to the gallery.  I still can't uploadan image in the post itself!

[tortoise lady]

I don't think anyone else has responded to your query Chris S.   I didn't notice a problem with our olive trees when we were there in September although an almond tree looked as if it had a similar problem and we suggested  it should be removed.

I am contacting our local agent to ask if there is any sign of knot disease on our trees.   Sincerely hope not - sorry, that wasn't meant to be a pun.   Has the disease affected the yield of olives from your trees and what about the olive oil?  We don't have a large amount of trees but we do get someone to pick the olives for us, preserve some and have the rest pressed into olive oil.   

We enjoy being able to offer our guests at the villa a sampling from the trees around them and we also manage to bring back to England enough olives and olive oil to keep us going throughout the year.   We would be very sad if we had a major problem with the trees.   

Do let me know how you are getting on with your trees - p.m. me if you prefer.

[si18665]

On reading my reply to your post, bear in mind that I am not an expert and due to a security protection in my PC, I can't see the image because routing to external links is prevented.

Guessing what your olive oil disease looks like, it might be the Latin name "Pseudomonas savastanoi", a disease which might be caused by the parassite "Dacus oleae". I suggest that you ask advise to an expert locally but if you don't find one have a look at the following links:
http://phero.net/iobc/samos/bulletin/mazomenos.pdf
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olive_fruit_fly

If you will decide to protect the tree by yourself and use chemical compounds, use exactly the quantity suggested, pour or spray it all over the tree exactly during the season and the period indicated. Any attempt with wrong compounds or mistaken protection will likely kill the tree. I have a small one in my garden and I love it. It has not been affected yet.

Good luck.

[Chris S]

Thanks to Tortoise Lady and si18665 (or si for short) for your interest.
I am now fairly sure the problem is Olive Knot but the cure or prevention seems to be pretty obscure and complex.  I was hoping that some one might have an insight into the treatment or cure.  For anyone interested, have a look at : https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=olive+knot&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=IAL8UozSCMjPhAfNz4GoDw&sqi=2&ved=0CDkQsAQ&biw=1092&bih=544
There were no signs of the symptoms earlier last year. It seems to have developed over the winter.