Skip to main content
ARS Home » Southeast Area » Byron, Georgia » Fruit and Tree Nut Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #357055
Research Project: Development of New Stone Fruit Cultivars and Rootstocks for the Southeastern United States

Location: Fruit and Tree Nut Research

Title: Fungal Gummosis in peach

Author
item MANCERO-CASTILLO, DANIEL - University Of Florida
item SARKHOSH, ALI - University Of Florida
item SHERMAN, SARA - University Of Florida
item OLMSTEAD, MERCY - University Of Florida
item HARMON, PHILLIP - University Of Florida
item Beckman, Thomas

Submitted to: Experiment Station Bulletins
Publication Type: Experiment Station
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/13/2018
Publication Date: 7/20/2018
Citation: Mancero-Castillo, D., Sarkhosh, A., Sherman, S., Olmstead, M., Harmon, P., Beckman, T.G. 2018. Fungal Gummosis in peach. Experiment Station Bulletins. 6 p.

Interpretive Summary: Fungal gummosis is an important disease of peach in the southeastern US. It takes its name from the large amounts of resinous gum that are exuded from infection sites on limbs and trunks. Reported since the early 1970’s damage from this disease can inflict yield losses upwards of 40% on susceptible cultivars. At this time there is no effective chemical control program for this disease. However, there are several management strategies, including variety selection, inoculum reduction and mitigation of drought stress that are helpful in reducing damage and economic losses to this disease.

Technical Abstract: Fungal gummosis incited by Botryosphaeria dothidea is a serious disease of peach in the southeastern US. Damage can be severe on susceptible cultivars, causing yield losses upwards of 40%, significant branch and limb dieback and even tree death. In the absence of an effective chemical control program, management through variety selection, inoculum reduction and stress mitigation are the only tools available to growers at this time. The purpose of this document is to provide guidance to growers on the identification of this disease, its potential impact and management strategies to minimize its damage.