BROWN ROT
This disease affects fruit trees, mainly apple, pear and plum trees.
Brown rot (Monilinia fructigena and laxa) is a fungus infection that enters the fruit through wounds made by wasps, caterpillars and birds. The symptoms are rotting and browning of the entire fruit. The fruit becomes soft and grey spots of fungus grow on the browned fruit. Eventually the fruit will shrivel and fall off.

How to Treat Brown Rot
The disease is spread by contact, so all infected fruit, whether on the tree or on the ground should be removed and burnt as soon as possible. If the disease has reached fruit in storage, these should also be removed and burnt and the storage area thoroughly cleaned, preferably disinfected. Annual cleaning of the storage area with soda and warm water is a good preventative measure. 

Keep the soil and grass around the tree clean, remove leaves and other debris regularly. No chemicals are currently available to treat Brown Rot.

GO TO THE GARDEN PEST AND DISEASE MAIN PAGE FOR
PESTS AND DISEASES CLASSIFIED BY PLANT

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