Brown Rot
Monilinia fructicola
Basic Details
Description
Taxonomy
Features
Translations
Basic Details
NameBrown Rot
DescriptionBrown rot turns healthy fruit into mushy, tan-colored masses covered in grey fuzz. Identify mummified fruit on the tree to break this destructive fungal cycle.
TypeFungus
FamilySclerotiniaceae
GenusMonilinia
Taxonomy & Features
PhylumAscomycota
SubphylumPezizomycotina
ClassLeotiomycetes
OrderHelotiales
Features
- One of the most destructive diseases of stone fruits (peaches, plums, cherries, apricots). Caused primarily by the fungus Monilinia fructicola
- Symptoms start as blossom wilt in spring. Flowers turn brown and shrivel, often staying attached to the branch by a sticky, gummy substance
- As fruit ripens, it develops small, soft tan spots that rapidly enlarge. In wet weather, these spots become covered in fuzzy, grey-to-tan spore masses
- Infected fruit continues to rot until it becomes a shriveled, hard, black 'mummy'. These mummies often remain hanging on the tree through the winter
- The fungus overwinters in mummified fruit on the tree or ground and in twig cankers. These sources release spores to start new infections in spring
- Infection can spread from a single fruit to an entire cluster where fruits touch. Thrives in warm, humid, and rainy conditions near harvest
- Insect damage from plum curculios or birds provides entry points for the fungus, greatly increasing the speed and severity of an outbreak
- Infected twigs may develop small, sunken cankers that can eventually girdle and kill the branch tip
- Prevent by removing and destroying all rotted or mummified fruit from the tree and the ground. Prune out and burn any infected twigs or cankers
- Apply organic fungicides like sulfur or potassium bicarbonate starting at bloom and again as the fruit begins to ripen, especially during rainy periods
Names in Different Languages
Latin / ScientificMonilinia fructicola
English (Alternate)Blossom wilt, Fruit rot
Hindiब्राउन रॉट (Brown rot)
Tamilபழுப்பு அழுகல் (Pazhuppu azhukal)
Teluguగోధుమ రంగు కుళ్లు (Godhuma rangu kullu)
Malayalamബ്രൗൺ റോട്ട് (Brrauṇ rōṭṭ)
Kannadaಕಂದು ಕೊಳೆ ರೋಗ (Kandu koḷe rōga)
Sanskritबभ्रु-सड़न (Babhru-saḍana)
Bengaliব্রাউন রট (Brown rot)
Frenchmoniliose
Russianмонилиоз (monilioz)
Spanishmonilia, podredumbre parda
GermanMonilia-Fruchtfäule
