Apple fruit disease - Ask Extension
As soon as petal drop i noticed these little bumps on the apple . The fruit matures and it rots and fall or the fruit is deformed. I also notice that...
Knowledgebase
Apple fruit disease #798039
Asked June 27, 2022, 10:39 AM EDT
As soon as petal drop i noticed these little bumps on the apple . The fruit matures and it rots and fall or the fruit is deformed. I also notice that some of the fruit now have these little spikes growing outof it. What am i dealing with.
Montgomery County Maryland
Expert Response
Hi,
This appears to be quince rust, a fungal disease that requires a rose family member (apple, pear, hawthorn, quince) and a juniper species to complete its life cycle:
https://apples.extension.org/quince-rust-of-apple/
It's usually not practical to break the disease cycle by removing the juniper host plant. This rust disease is considered less significant than others, like cedar-apple rust. Favorable conditions for the disease before and after bloom (extended wet weather and temps above 50 degrees F.) may have contributed to a higher incidence this year.
This rust and other diseases can be prevented with scheduled fungicide applications:
https://www.pubs.ext.vt.edu/content/dam/pubs_ext_vt_edu/456/456-018/ENTO-462-C.pdf
Remove and discard all affected fruits.
Jon
This appears to be quince rust, a fungal disease that requires a rose family member (apple, pear, hawthorn, quince) and a juniper species to complete its life cycle:
https://apples.extension.org/quince-rust-of-apple/
It's usually not practical to break the disease cycle by removing the juniper host plant. This rust disease is considered less significant than others, like cedar-apple rust. Favorable conditions for the disease before and after bloom (extended wet weather and temps above 50 degrees F.) may have contributed to a higher incidence this year.
This rust and other diseases can be prevented with scheduled fungicide applications:
https://www.pubs.ext.vt.edu/content/dam/pubs_ext_vt_edu/456/456-018/ENTO-462-C.pdf
Remove and discard all affected fruits.
Jon
Just a follow up so the bump that shows up after petals fall in the first pic is the quince rust ?
Hi,
Yes, it begins with distortion of the calyx end of the fruit, opposite the stem end.
Jon
Yes, it begins with distortion of the calyx end of the fruit, opposite the stem end.
Jon
