The entire apple becomes soft but retains its shape and takes on a light brown color. When dropped, the rotten fruit falls completely apart. The second type symptom of white rot is small, brown, circular spots on the fruit, similar to bitter rot. The spots are softer than black rot and more cupped-shaped than bitter rot. Infection occurs about six weeks before harvest or about mid-July.
Sooty blotch is a superficial fungal growth on the apple surface.
Spots are a dull black with an indefinite outline resulting in a sooty appearance. The entire surface of the fruit may be covered by the fungus. Sooty blotch infection can occur anytime during fruit development but it is most noticeable during late season. Fly speck consists of very small, black, superficial circular spots on the fruit surface. This disease downgrades the fruit because of appearance but does not otherwise affect fruit quality.