Apple scab ascospores were discharged at our AREC with showers starting yesterday morning. The earliest buds on Gala showed some green-tip, but 17 hours of wetting at 39-47° F was not enough for an infection period. It was a “two-minute warning” of sorts. Hopefully now, gradual bud advancement over the next week will allow some opportunity for application of protectant fungicides before another scab infection event. Preventive disease management is the best way to offset development of resistance to the more highly selective fungicides.
