Control of Neofabraea spp. in organic apple production

Post-harvest fruit rot caused by Neofabraea spp. leads to losses exceeding 50% in organic apple production, with symptoms appearing months after initial infection. Key management strategies include avoiding susceptible varieties like Pinova, minimizing prolonged wetting, using drip irrigation, maintaining low flower strips, and installing physical barriers from mid-July. Copper-based treatments with corroborants such as Ulmasud and laminarin enhance resistance when applied to dry foliage. Early, short harvest windows reduce risk. Hot water treatment pre-storage and storing apples in small, isolated cells limit disease spread. The Laimburg Research Centre (Italy) published this 2023 practice abstract via Biofruitnet, available in English (USA), German (Switzerland), Italian, and Latvian.