Effect of application timing of ergosterol biosynthesis-inhibiting fungicides on the suppression of disease and latent infection of apple white rot caused by Botryosphaeria dothidea

To examine the duration of post-infectional activity of ergosterol biosynthesis-inhibiting fungicides (EBIs) against Botryosphaeria dothidea, the cause of apple white rot, a series of experiments was conducted for 3 years at different times during the apple-growing season using apples infected through artificial inoculation or natural infection. Disease incidence at harvest was gradually reduced as the time of chemical application was delayed until early or mid-August, regardless of the time of infection. Latent infections, detected after storing the fruit at 25°C for 4 weeks were also reduced by late season applications, but the reduction was less than that observed on the fruit at harvest. From these results, apple white rot can be effectively controlled by a single application of EBIs around mid-August, after which time, infections no longer occur in Korea.