Monilinia

Monilinia is a genus of fungi of the class Leotiomycetes whose species Monilinia fructicola, Monilinia laxa, and Monilinia fructigena cause brown rot of stone fruits such as peaches, cherries, plums, and apricots. Infected fruit develops spreading brown decay, often with characteristic spore tufts, and mummifies on the tree or in storage, causing major preharvest and postharvest losses. Control combines orchard sanitation to remove mummies, fungicide programs timed to bloom and preharvest, and rapid cooling after harvest to slow any latent infections. Packinghouses cull infected fruit because a single rotting fruit can spread the disease through a whole box during storage and transit.