Spore populations severely decline during winter. Fruit that have fallen on the orchard floor are infected through contact with infested soil. Throughout the fall and winter, spores are dislodged from the decaying fruit into the soil. Spores are also dispersed by mowing, which scatters pieces of infected fruit. The fungus survives best in cool, dry soils.
Fruit become most suscessful to infection one month before harvest.
Fruit that are overmature are more susceptible to infection. The fungus enters the packinghouse in soil that adheres to fruit bins. Fruit infection occurs during harvest or in the dump tank with rot developing in storage. Do not put fallen fruit in bins with harvested fruit. Harvest fruit in dry weather.