Alternaria fruit rot
Disease
Alternaria fruit rot
Alternaria alternate (Fr.:Fr.) Keissl
Distribution: Common to all fruit-growing regions in eastern North America.
The disease appears as velvety dark green to black, circular, sunken lesions on mature fruit; the infected tissue is firm and brown (A, B). Disease is typically associated with over-ripe or damaged fruit, or fruit held in storage (where serious losses can occur). The pathogen has also been reported to cause superficial red spotting on the surface of apricots and peaches. The spots eventually turn tan to brown, becoming necrotic, but typically retaining a red halo.