Sooty Blotch and Flyspeck of Apple
Peltaster/Zygophiala fungal complex
Applefungal
A cosmetic fungal complex that smudges or speckles fruit skin without affecting flesh quality.
Symptoms
Cosmetic sooty smudges (sooty blotch) or clusters of tiny black dots (flyspeck) on the fruit skin.
Favorable conditions
- •Humid weather and dense canopy limiting airflow
- •Delayed harvest allowing more time for colonization
Management
- 1Apply fungicide cover sprays during the growing season
- 2Prune for better airflow and sun exposure
- 3Harvest promptly at maturity
Back to the disease library