Apple orchard diseases – Rot management options (Rot risk assessment)

Fungal rot Assessment timing Orchard Risk Rot history Rain Decision
Brown rot July / August orchard incidence  high (>1%) N/A N/A
  • Selective picking at harvest and / or
  • Market fruit early
Orchard incidence low N/A N/A
  • Selective picking at harvest
Botrytis (eye rot) August N/A Moderate-high incidence Rain June to Harvest average or > average
  • Market fruit by January
Rain June to Harvest < average
  • No specific action needed
N/A Low incidence Rain June-Harvest =average or < average
  • No specific action needed
Neonectria rot April Moderate-high incidence cankered trees Moderate – high incidence N/A Apply fungicide spray in blossom and petal fall
Low incidence cankered trees Low incidence N/A No fungicide treatment in blossom/petal fall needed
August / September Low-high incidence cankered trees N/A >average rain blossom-harvest Market fruit before January if no sprays applied in blossom/petal fall
Moderate-high incidence cankered trees N/A average rain blossom-harvest
High incidence cankered trees N/A  
Fungal rot Assessment timing Orchard Risk Rain in 15 days pre-harvest Decision
% bare ground % crop <0.5 m above ground
Phytophthora rot Mid July 0% = overall grass, weed cover or mulch N/A N/A No sprays needed
20% or > bareground >15% N/A Apply fungicide 28 and 14 days pre-harvest or delay action until harvest
August / September / Harvest 0% = overall grass, weed cover or mulch N/A N/A
  • No specific action as risk very low
20% or > bareground > 15% low or no rain = low risk
  • No specific action as risk very low
20 mm or > = high risk
  • Selective pick at harvest or
  • Market fruit early to minimise losses if no fungicide treatment applied
< 15% N/A No specific action as risk very low