In a dry Spring when spraying for Black Spot is unlikely to occur, it’s important to plan for Powdery Mildew.
Especially in new varieties of apples, more Powdery Mildew is being seen and it tends not to russet as much as in older varieties.
Look out for signs of powdery mildew in the pink stage and think about what preventative spray options may be available if necessary.
Powdery mildew: healthy and infected apple fruit shoot at pink stage
Powdery mildew: Early symptoms on upper side of leaf
Powdery mildew causes decreased production through smaller fruit size.
For more information see Agriculture Victoria AgNote – Powdery Mildew of Apples:
Article reviewed by David Williams (Agriculture Victoria)
