Primary Infection of Apple Buds by Botryosphaeria obtusa. Myra Beisel Smith, Former Graduate Assistant, Department of Plant Pathology, University of Georgia, Athens 30602. F. F. Hendrix, Jr., Professor, Department of Plant Pathology, University of Georgia, Athens 30602. Plant Dis. 68:707-709. Accepted for publication 21 February 1984. Copyright 1984 The American Phytopathological Society. DOI: 10.1094/PD-68-707.

Infestation of apple buds with Botryosphaeria obtusa occurs during the winter in Georgia. Primary infection may occur as early as the silver-tip stage of bud phenology. This study indicates that application of one fungicide spray at silver-tip can replace the standard five sprays starting at the prepink stage of bud phenology.