Knowledgebase
Brown Rot in Peaches? #820374
Asked February 14, 2023, 3:07 PM EST
Jackson County Oregon
Expert Response
I am curious about the round holes in the center of the discolored area. Usually, a hole like that is associated with earwig feeding in stone fruits. Did you notice the holes before or after the discoloration?
The brown color doesn’t look like brown rot, which usually has spores. This brown discoloration could be from a secondary infection or oxidation if an insect made the hole first.
Hi - This past summer we did have a big problem with earwigs, squash bugs and cucumber beetles eating the peaches. We have never had a problem like this before. Maybe a few earwigs in years past but never squash bugs or cucumber beetles. Many of our peaches had holes like this however not all of them got the brown rot like circle. I did find about 8-10 peaches that had molded on the tree. They were shriveled and fuzzy gray. I don't recall if any of them had any holes.
I appreciate your responses! If it is a secondary infection from insect holes, is there an organic insecticide I can use to prevent further fruit damage during the ripening period? Thank you so much!
Thank you so much for your responses!