• The brown rot fungus can cause blossom blight or fruit rot. Surface moisture and moderately warm temperatures encourage its development.
• Fruit damaged by wind, hail, insects, or mechanical means is more susceptible to this organism. Infected blossoms are brown and water-soaked.
• The fungus grows down the pedicel into the stem which may cause twig dieback.
• Diseased blossoms and fruit generally become covered with "tufts" of brown fungal material. Fruit infection usually occurs near maturity.
• The fungal organism overwinters in mummies, stem cankers and old fruit peduncles.

Management

• Control is by repeated fungicide applications and sanitation.