Changing options for the control of deciduous fruit tree diseases

The evolution of disease management programs for deciduous fruit trees in the United States over the past 50 years has been influenced by factors that include public concern over pesticide residues on fruit and in the environment, the development of resistance of many important tree pathogens to fungicides and bactericides, the loss of fungicide registrations and restrictions on their use due to concern for human health and the environment and/or marketing decisions by the manufacturers, and changes in cultural practices and marketing objectives. These factors have led to wider use of forecasting models and cultural controls, the development of resistance management strategies, and the introduction of new equipment and methods for pesticide application. These same factors will most likely continue to drive the fruit industry to adopt disease management programs that rely less on pesticides in the future.