Greatest loss occur in areas where mild to warm wet day time conditions are more frequent.
Two species of fungi are responsible for brown rots in Australia. Monilinia laxa damages flowers and shoots earlier in the season and Monilinia fructicola causes damage to both flowers and fruit and therefore causes the greatest economic loss of fruit. Infections begin early in the season and not be evident until at or near harvest. The affected fruit has soft brown patches of varying size that makes the fruit unsaleable. Symptoms Blossom blight Infected blossoms turn brown, wither and remain attached to the twig and clear to amber gum may sometimes appear at the flower stalk.