Apple disease or insect - Ask Extension
Hi. Can you tell me based on this photo the problem with my apples and the specific treatment that will fix it? It's the first time the trees grew...
Knowledgebase
Apple disease or insect #849947
Asked September 14, 2023, 3:30 PM EDT
Hi. Can you tell me based on this photo the problem with my apples and the specific treatment that will fix it? It's the first time the trees grew apples in our backyard after 5 years but each apple has the same defects. Thx.
Cedar County Iowa
Expert Response
This damage looks much like the damage caused by apple maggot.
More information about this issue can be found here:
Brown spots like this can also be caused by an issue called bitter pit. More information about this issue can be found here:
Occasionally stink bugs will cause problems that look similar to this. More information can be found here: https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/look_a_like_late_season_apple_damage
Based on what I can see, I've listed the potential causes above in order from most to least likely.
It is not possible to confirm a disease or issue from photos alone. If interested, you can send a sample to the Iowa State University Plant and Insect Diagnostic Clinic to confirm what disease you are trying to manage. It would be best to start with an email and some photos so the clinic staff can advise on the best time and method for collecting and submitting a sample based on the most likely issue. More information on how to collect and submit a sample can be found here: https://hortnews.extension.iastate.edu/pidc/plant
--Aaron
More information about this issue can be found here:
- https://hortnews.extension.iastate.edu/faq/there-are-brown-streaks-my-apples-what-cause-and-how-can-it-be-prevented
- https://extension.umn.edu/yard-and-garden-insects/apple-maggot
- https://hortnews.extension.iastate.edu/apple-maggot
Brown spots like this can also be caused by an issue called bitter pit. More information about this issue can be found here:
- https://hort.extension.wisc.edu/articles/bitter-pit-and-cork-spot/
- https://www.canr.msu.edu/ipm/diseases/bitter_pit_and_cork_spot?language_id=
Occasionally stink bugs will cause problems that look similar to this. More information can be found here: https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/look_a_like_late_season_apple_damage
Based on what I can see, I've listed the potential causes above in order from most to least likely.
It is not possible to confirm a disease or issue from photos alone. If interested, you can send a sample to the Iowa State University Plant and Insect Diagnostic Clinic to confirm what disease you are trying to manage. It would be best to start with an email and some photos so the clinic staff can advise on the best time and method for collecting and submitting a sample based on the most likely issue. More information on how to collect and submit a sample can be found here: https://hortnews.extension.iastate.edu/pidc/plant
--Aaron