Monilia: how to fight stone fruit Monilliosis

Moniliosis is a fungal disease that affects all stone fruit plants indifferently (especially peach and apricot). It is caused by several species of fungi, all belonging to the genus Monilia which, in favorable conditions, cause extensive damage to the crops concerned.

Index

Moniliosis: symptoms on stone fruit

How to fight Moniliosis: biological control & chemical control

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Moniliosis: symptoms on stone fruit

Although they have very different characteristics, the fungi responsible for Moniliosis are indistinguishable in terms of the damage caused. This factor, together with the long period of possibility of infection for the plant (from flowering to the marketing of the fruit) and the high virulence of pathogens make it difficult to manage the disease. 

What are the damages caused by Monilia?

Stone fruits affected by the fungus have:

• foliage with dark and/or brown and/or reddish spots
• young dried shoots, with a soft consistency and the typical color of a scald from boiling water
• Leakage of rubbery-looking biological material from branches
• fruits with yellow spots caused by mold that also occurs all over the pulp. The fruits can either fall off or remain hanging from their peduncle taking on a mummified appearance

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How to fight Moniliosis: biological control & chemical control

Preventive control

The preventive fight to reduce the potential for monilia inoculation consists of practices such as:

1. andlimination of rotten fruits, both those already fallen and those hanging from branches
2. avoid watering above the canopy at times of ripening 

In addition, a series of strategies implemented among themselves and used in this specific preventive phase will be very usefulto counteract the onset of monilios:

• Red Block, liquid extract of red algae particularly rich in iodine
• Zeolite, a sedimented mineral of volcanic origin composed mainly of silicon and aluminum oxide
• Potassium bicarbonate, a fungicide capable, through different mechanisms, of acting by contact
• Silacid, a corroborant composed of silicon and aluminium sulphate

Chemical Control

As far as conventional control tools are concerned, it is essential to use products that have different active ingredients or different mechanisms of action. In this way, the selection of fungicide-resistant strains of the fungus can be avoided. 

With this in mind, we recommend a list of fungicides for professional use, excellent for the control and treatment of Monilia:

•  Folicur WG Bayer: systemic fungicide based on Tebuconazole, a broad-spectrum molecule effective against all pathogens
•  Flint Max Bayer : fungicide in water-suspensory granules with a broad spectrum of action
•  Signum: thanks to the presence of Boscalid and Pyraclostrobin, it increases its range of action on Monilia and other mushrooms
• Chorus: endotherapeutic fungicide that is quickly absorbed by vegetation and is little affected by the washing action of rain
• Geoxe : fungicide in water-dispersible granules
• Switch: selective fungicide against the most common and important mites and beneficial insects
• Luna Experience Bayer : fungicide based on Fluopyram and Tubeconazole
•  Teldor Plus Bayer : Phenhexamide-based fungicide with high resistance to washout

A role of great importance is played by the use of mixtures with calcium and silicon-based fertilizers, designed to strengthen the cell walls, so as to make it difficult to establish the disease. In this way, chemical interventions will be reduced, in favor of the reduction of residues:

• Barrier which, by guaranteeing the right amount of silicon in the plant, makes it more difficult for monilia to penetrate the cell walls of the plant
• Siltop Evo, by ensuring the intake of silicon , will contribute to a mechanical barrier at the level of the cell wall
• Loes Ca , thanks to its particular formulation of micro-molecular calcium, helps the strengthening of the plant
• RedCal, a mixture capable of regulating the adequate absorption of calcium by the plant

Biological control

In the case of biological defense against monilia of stone fruits, in order to enhance and preserve the productive biological symptoms, without resorting to chemicals, we offer the following products for professional use: 

•  Serenade Max , fungicide based on Bacillus Subtilis 
• Taegro, fungicide based on Bacillus amyloliquefaciens
• Serifel, contains pure spores of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens
• Amylo-x, fungicide in water-dispersible granules based on Bacillus amyloliquefaciens