Master Gardener Online Buckeye Rot Buckeye rot is one of a number of fruit rotting diseases that attacks both green and ripe fruit, especially where the fruit touches the soil. The lesion is rounded with alternating bands of light and dark brown in concentric circles. The lesion appears water-soaked at first, but later may become leathery on the surface. Staking or plastic mulch to prevent fruit from contacting the soil is an effective control. The disease is worse in hot, wet weather.
Fungicides offer little control to soil-contact type diseases.