Research programs span a broad area of disease management on deciduous tree fruit crops.
Emphasis is placed on an IPM approach including the evaluation of predictive models and epidemiology of a number of diseases. Special efforts have been focused on the cooperative development of an interactive, computer-based expert system for disease management in apple orchards. A management model for fire blight of apple and pear being perfected includes both epidemiology and specific disease history and orchard conditions. Specific timing for fungicide treatments for control of a summer disease complex composed of fungal pathogens producing fruit blotches and decay on apple is being evaluated. On peach and nectarine, the level of susceptibility of immature fruit to brown rot is being determine to aid in the establishment of minimal-use fungicide recommendations.