The most recent outbreaks in Europe were in the central European countries. There are still outbreaks of the disease in developing countries and in animal feedstuffs. Ergot alkaloids are toxic and the disease has an insidious way of getting eaten. Ascospores infect open flowers and infect ovary directly or through the stigma. Honey dew production ceases and the infected ovary is replaced by a fungal sclerotium that develops at the same rate as the seed.
Control is only by sanitation and cultural practices.
Clean seed is imperative. Deep plough the sclerotia and remove weedy grasses from around field. Apple Scab - Venturia inaequalis Occurs wherever apples are grown. Favored by cool moist conditions particularly in the spring. It is the most important disease of apples.