Disease cycle and epidemiology (Blossom wilt)

• The fungus overwinters in infected cankers or dead blossoms on branches.
• The sexual state is rare and unimportant in the perennation of the disease.
• Conidia produced on the cankers or dead blossoms in early spring are disseminated by wind and rain and infect new blossoms.
• Fungal hyphae spread from infected blossoms to twigs/branches to form new cankers.
• The disease is favoured by cool moist weather.