Blossom Blight in Stonefruit

Blossom Blight of Stone Fruit is caused by fungal pathogens Monilinia laxa and Sclerotinia lax. It is a disease of stone fruit that causes the death of flowers and fruit and occasionally shoots. Fruit may be infected as it nears maturity and small brown spots rapidly spread and rot the fruit within a few days. The fruit may fall or dry out and remain on the tree as “mummies”. All stone fruit are affected. The disease is favoured by humid wet weather with cool nights. Insects, wind, water spreads the spores. The fungus infects the blossoms that may then turn brown and die. It grows into the stem and may ring bark it causing the branch to die. Infection of fruit usually occurs as it approaches maturity and starts as small brown spots that rot the fruit within a few days.