Blossom blight and brown rot

Summary

Blossom blight and brown rot are common diseases found in Australian cherry orchards. The causal fungi are the related pathogens Monilinia fructicola, M. fructigena and M. laxa, which can affect blossoms and fruit. Blossom blight reduces the number of viable flowers and damages fruiting shoots, reducing crop yield. Brown rot makes fruit unsaleable, and late-season infections can lead to fruit breakdown during postharvest storage, handling and marketing.

This fact sheet describes how to identify the disease, its life cycle, and some management options.