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It is the most common disease in the orchard and yet the least treated by the gardener. Also known as, moniliose, this infection attacks the fruit as well as weakening the tree itself!
The symptoms
The disease brown rot (fruit mummification) takes it name from the most visible of its symptoms: the fruits shrivel up and remain on the trees without falling throughout the summer. They gradually are covered in white mildew and their skin takes on a leathery texture. They remain attached to the tree through the summer until the following spring. Whilst this symptom may account for the loss of only some fruit, brown rot also causes many of the tree’s young shoots to wither away in the spring. The withering of the very young branches is due to the same bacteria that are responsible for the mummification of the fruit. Not only does it hamper the growth of the tree but an attack of brown rot also opens the door to other more serious diseases, which can be introduced via the damaged young bark.
Lifecycle
Brown rot is caused by a particularly contagious fungus, which is airborne. The mummified fruits clinging to the branches disperse pathogenic germs through the entire winter and spring. They start by attacking the young shoots and flowers, which subsequently perish. Later on in the season, the fungus will attack the fruits, which it will enter by any small wound. A peck from a bird is enough of an opening for brown rot to establish itself and mummify the fruit in only a few days. In return, the fruit will go on to spread the disease throughout the cold season.
How to fight it
Treating brown rot is a question of little but often throughout the year. The bouillie bordelaise solution or soluble sulphur is enough to fight against the fungus responsible. Spraying should be carried out three times per year: at the beginning of spring when the buds appear, during the summer when the young fruits are properly formed and again in the autumn when the leaves are falling. By carefully carrying out these treatments the infection by brown rot will diminish but never disappear totally.
How to avoid it
Even if we cannot totally prevent this disease, it is possible to limit its attacks. Remove any damaged fruit as soon as you notice it. Even a fruit that has been pecked by a bird can present an opening for the disease. Also, do not leave fruit lying on the ground after the harvest. If you do carry out treatments against brown rot also treat those surrounding ornamental plants that could harbour the disease: flowering plum trees and those decorative apple trees, etc.
Information
Plant extracts like liquid manures are not very effective against the disease because the disease develops inside the plant tissue, which shelters it from these soft treatments. - Photos (1)
Brown Rot
The symptoms
Author: Jean-Michel Groult
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