Sooty Blotch and Fly Speck (Apples & Pears)

Description: These two diseases often occur together because they have similar, and numerous, wild hosts.

Sooty blotch and fly speck are most likely to develop when temperatures are between 65° and 80°F and when humidity is high. This combination occurs most frequently when nighttime temperatures remain above 65° to 70°F during summer, or during extended warm rainy periods. Sooty blotch and fly speck infections which are not yet visible at harvest can develop during storage.

Solution: Spray Soap-Shield^® Fungicidal Soap when disease first appears, and repeat at 7-10 day intervals for as long as needed. For optimum control, begin spraying 2 weeks before disease normally appears, or when temperature and humidity conditions favor disease establishment. If summer diseases such as sooty blotch and fly speck have been a serious problem in past years, dormant sprays of Soap-Shield or Liquid Copper, applied in early spring, may help eradicate over-wintering infections that became established on twigs the previous season.

NOTE: If used frequently, Soap-Shield may cause leaf burn. If leaf burn develops, discontinue Soap-Shield sprays, and use Micronized Sulfur instead.