Production regularity in organic apricot orchards is highly constrained by blossom brown rot caused by Monilinia spp. infections on flowers. Leaf rust (Tranzschelia spp.) development can induce early defoliation, which is detrimental to tree vigour and yield. Copper-based treatments are partially efficient against both diseases but their negative environmental impact should be considered. The choice of cultivars according to disease susceptibility criterions is a key-step towards low-input production systems.
This poster presents the susceptibilities to blossom brown rot and leaf rust of 16 apricot cultivars observed during 5 years in two sites
