MANAGEMENT OF BROWN ROT (MONILINIA LAXA) IN PEACHES IN WARMER AREAS

The timings of spray for control of peach brown rot [Monilinia laxa (Aderh. & Ruhl.) Honey] was examined with carbendazim (Bavistin). Different spray schedules including two pre-harvest applications were compared with post-infection curative schedule.
Brown rot did not develop in the experimental orchard until about one month before harvest.
Variations in the spring application had no effect on disease development.
Spraying the developing fruit one month before picking was essential for brown rot control in the orchard.
The late spray was necessary, however, for control of brown rot in stored fruit.
The incidence of soft rot (Rhizopus stolonifer) in stored fruits was also reduced by two pre-harvest applications of carbendazim.
Brown rot control with curative schedule was equal to that with the best protective schedules but carbendazim did not prevent infection of injured fruits.
An infection period of 18 days before harvest appeared to result in a high level of short term, latent infection.
The rationale of spray schedule is discussed in relation to recent advances in understanding brown rot epidemiology.

VII International Symposium on Temperate Zone Fruits in the Tropics and Subtropics – Part Two

R.L. Sharma

brown rot, peaches, Monilinia laxa

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2005.696.62