By Clint Thompson
Southeast peach producers must be vigilant in applying fungicides this time of year. Phil Brannen, University of Georgia (UGA) Cooperative Extension fruit disease specialist, explains that shuck split during the peach production season provides a vulnerable time for the crop against certain diseases, including peach scab.
“I shouldn’t forget about scab. If we don’t have good fungicides out at petal fall and shuck split for scab, we’ll also have significant scab infections,” Brannen said. “As soon as the shuck, which is the protective covering that the little baby fruit has on it, as soon as that shuck splits, then the fungi and the bacteria can basically start infecting the young peach. It’s a critical time. The tissue is immature and very susceptible to bacterial and fungal invasion at that time. That’s why both scab and bacterial spot sprays are critical.”
Peach shuck split usually occurs from March through April. This stage in the production season happens about a week to 10 days following pollination.
Peach scab is a fungal disease that excels in a wet environment. It doesn’t affect the safety of the fruit, but if left untreated, it can degrade the crop’s aesthetic appeal.
Bacterial spot is a sporadic leaf-spot disease that can cause defoliation in certain cultivars. Spots can also appear on the fruit, causing damage and leaving fruit unmarketable.