Freckle in Stone Fruit

Freckle or scab is a fungal disease of stone fruit caused by Venturia carpophila. The disease is found world wide especially in warm, wetter areas. It affects most stone fruit, including plums. Freckle can cause defoliation and scabbing of fruit which may cause loss or downgrading of fruit quality. Freckle can affect fruit, leaves and shoots. It first appears on fruits as small dark spots about six to eight weeks after petal fall. On mature fruits, the fungus forms small, circular, sooty-brown spots or freckles which become scabby