Types

• Brown rot (Monilinia fructicola) infects the fruit, flower and twigs of apricot trees. The spores of the plum pocket disease (genus Taphrina) may infest apricots, but don't damage fruit. Two fungi species (Valsa cincta and V. leucostoma) cause perennial canker in wounded apricot wood. Verticillium alboatrum, or verticillium wilt, infects nonresistant apricot rootstock. Powdery mildew (Podosphaera oxyacanthae) dusts the leaves of apricots in gray. Shot hole disease (Coryneum carpophilum) blemishes and disfigures apricot fruit.
  
  

Significance

• Disease fungi on apricots are especially deleterious to commercial growers, since even disfigured yet edible apricots can't be marketed. In areas where there are many commercial fruit producers, there may be minimum fungicidal spray requirements for apricot and other fruit trees to prevent the spread of disease to commercial orchards.
  
  

Expert Insight

• In a home orchard, risk of infection may be reduced by avoiding the temptation to grow several apricots or other stone fruits in the same area, since much of these diseases infect most or all stone fruits. Each apricot or other stone fruit tree should be planted in a separate area. Disease-resistant varieties of apricots and all other stone fruits are recommended.