Apple Diseases

Know the signs of apple disease.

Apple crops can be ruined by an infection of fungus or rot. Learn the warning signs and prevention techniques to protect your apple harvest.

Rot

Apples can be blighted with different types of rot, such as black rot, white rot and bitter rot. All types of rot are visible as wrinkled, tender brown skin.

Fungal diseases

Some fungal diseases affecting apples include powdery mildew, flyspeck and apple scab. These appear as hard blemishes on the apple skin or dusty streaks or spots on the skin.

Monitoring

Many of these diseases telegraph their presence with dark spots on the leaves before they reach the fruit level. Check your apple leaves often and if you see spotted or unhealthy leaves, call a horticulturist for help diagnosing your apple disease.

Prevention/Solution

Spray your apple trees regularly with a liquid fruit tree spray to prevent fungal diseases and rot. Spray for the first time once apple blossoms have developed but before they open and follow up with a second spraying when the blossoms have fallen.

Environment

Apple trees don't like wet, foggy spring weather or poor, compacted soil. While you can't control the weather, you can enrich your soil to promote overall tree health.

References

• University of Kentucky: Apple Disease
• Gardening Tips
• New Mexico State University - Apples