At present control is dependent on an integrated approach combining monitoring, and cultural measures with fungicide use. In well managed conventional orchards, which receive frequent fungicide sprays for scab control, specific control measures are not usually required.
- Trim hedgerows to limit inoculum.
- Prune apple trees to ensure good light penetration and air circulation so that fruit dries rapidly.
- Maintain good weed control to ensure good air circulation.
- As disease symptoms do not appear until 3-6 weeks after initial colonisation, orchard monitoring as a basis for decision makers is not practical. However, identifying the problem in one year can be used as an alert for treatment in later years.
- Where the disease has been a problem the previous season, apply sprays of an effective fungicide to fruit in early summer (mid-late June) and in July and August.
- Mancozeb (Karamate) is the most effective fungicide.
- DMI fungicides such as penconazole (Topas, Topenco) are ineffective and captan has only limited effectiveness.
- Some disease warning systems have been developed such as RIMpro, which include a model based on leaf wetness, rain and temperature. This allows sprays to be more targeted.