Why Did the Nectarines on My Tree Shrivel and Die?

Cause

• When your nectarine tree develops brown rot, a fungal disease, the fruit can discolor, shrivel and die in as little as two days. In the early stages, the fruit develops spots under the skin. It may develop tan or gray spores on the skin and wither completely. The shriveled fruit either falls off the tree or clings to the branches. Infected fruit harbors fungal spores, so it can infect other trees if it isn't removed and disposed of in the garbage.

Environmental Conditions

• Brown rot develops in moist conditions. Humid or wet weather in the spring or summer means this fungal disease could strike. While fruit becomes more susceptible to the disease as it ripens, trees can also contract brown rot of flowers or twigs. A tree that develops rot in the flowers or stems is more likely to produce rotting fruit. Fruit that gets injured by hail or insect pests, such as the Japanese beetle or oriental fruit moth, is also more likely to get brown rot.

Control

• Prune your tree annually so sun and air can move throughout the canopy, helping push out disease spores so the tree does not get infected. As fruits develop, thin them out to leave space between each fruit. Look for brown rot on your nectarine tree, especially during a wet or humid spring and summer. If you notice symptoms, prune infected branches or remove diseased fruit and dispose of it in the trash. Then apply a preventative fungicide to keep your tree from developing full-blown symptoms and protect the fruit. If you don't catch the disease early, you cannot control brown rot once it's full blown.

Post-Harvest Shrivel

• Fruit that looks healthy on the tree and shrivels, after harvest, may be contaminated with brown rot spores. Nectarines can also shrivel post-harvest if they were picked too young and the fruit was green and not ripe enough. For this reason, choose nectarines that are deep yellow with no hints of green.