Rotting of Apples of the Variety ‘Bramley's Seedling’ by Nectria galligena, Bres.

Abstract

THE first records of fruit rotting by N. galligena were made by Salmon and Wormald in Kent¹ and Dillon-Weston in the Wisbech area², where it occurred on the variety ‘Worcester Pearmain’; it has since been reported as troublesome on a number of dessert varieties in various European countries^3–6. Typical infection occurs at the blossom end of the fruit, either through the open calyx⁷ or lenticels⁸, and the disease became known as eye rot¹. The rot frequently develops while the fruit is still on the tree², and the cream-coloured conidial masses of the imperfect stage, Cylindrocarpon mali (Allesch.) Wr., appear on the surface^1,2. Such fruit, if left on the tree, become mummified, and perithecia are formed during the winter following infection².