Management of mouldy core and core rot of apple causing pre-harvest fruit drop in Himachal Pradesh

Different systemic and non-systemic fungicides were evaluated in the farmer's field in Shimla district of Himachal Pradesh for their efficacy to control mouldy core and core rot. EBI fungicides (difenoconazole, hexaconazole and myclobutanil) and protectants (mancozeb flowable, dodine and captan) gave better disease control of mouldy core and core rot of apple. Three sprays of difenoconazole sprayed at pink bud, full bloom and petal fall stages of apple provided 94 per cent control of mouldy core and core rot followed by sprays of mancozeb (at pink bud), difenoconazole (at full bloom) and hexaconazole (at petal fall) with 90 per cent disease control without hampering the fruit set.