Alternative strategies for controlling storage rots in Cox's Orange Pippin apples without the use of post-harvest fungicides

The suitability of pre- and post-harvest treatments to control storage rots in Cox's Orange Pippin apples were investigated, Late season sprays of captan reduced the incidence of Nectria, Phytoyhthora and Monilinia rots. Selective harvesting reduced the incidence of Monilinia rots in fruit from one orchard. The biological control agent Candida oleophila applied post-harvest reduced Botrytis rots, either on its own or in conjunction with a low dose of carbendazim (0.005% wt/v a.i.). Drenching with chlorine was not a viable alternative, and in some cases increased the amount of rotting compared to undrenched controls.