Mouldy core - disease status

Mouldy core is an internal dry rot of certain apple cultivars, especially Cameo and Bramley’s Seedling. The average incidence in 2007/8 of mouldy core in Cameo was around 10%. The main problem with mouldy core is that it develops inside the apple, often in store or as the fruit ripens during marketing and can remain undetected until the fruit is eaten. Discovery of core rots in this way can obviously affect consumer acceptability and rejection of consignments by the supermarkets. Losses in Cameo can be significant especially as the core rot appears to continue to develop in store and during marketing.