Diseases

Monilinia blossom blight of almond

Prunus dulcis (Mill.) D. A. Webb

A fungal disease of almond caused primarily by Monilinia laxa, manifesting as blossom and shoot blight, fruit rot, and necrotic cankers on branches.

In the reference 16 varieties crop Almond, where this is mentioned in the description.

The pathogen responsible for the disease in almond is most commonly the fungus Monilinia laxa, with Monilinia fructicola and Monilinia fructigena occurring less frequently. The infection affects the plant at different developmental stages: in spring, wilting and necrosis of blossoms and young shoots occur, often accompanied by gummosis. During the fruiting period, fruit rot develops, leading to the mummification of fruits, which remain a source of infection on the tree.

Necrotic cankers with a characteristic light center and dark margin form on branches and shoots. Specific resistance genes in almond to the pathogen have not been identified; however, breeding programs are conducting research to identify quantitative trait loci (QTLs) responsible for the level of field resistance to fruit rot in hybrid populations.

General information about the subject — on the page Moniliasis (fruit rot).

Sources8

Varieties of Almond mentioned in the description

Selection based on the description text, not on official evaluation: these data are absent from registers. For specific variety details, please refer to its profile.