symptoms
Symptoms
- circleOlive-green to black velvety spots on leaves
- circleScabby, corky lesions on fruit skin
- circlePremature leaf yellowing and drop
help
Causes
Caused by the fungus Venturia inaequalis, which overwinters in fallen leaves and spreads via wind and rain-splashed spores during cool, wet spring weather.
healing
Treatment
Remove and destroy fallen leaves each autumn to reduce overwintering spores. Apply fungicide sprays timed from bud break through early summer in wet seasons.
shield
Prevention
Plant scab-resistant apple varieties where possible, prune to improve airflow through the canopy, and clean up fallen leaves and fruit promptly.