[1] Monilinia laxa is an ascomycete fungus that is responsible for the brown rot blossom blight disease that infects many different types of stone fruit trees, such as apricots, cherries and peaches.

In addition, apothecia, which are small, open cup, mushroom-like sexual propagative structures of M. laxa that produce ascospores, also develop on the fallen fruits on the ground.

[4] Both asexual (conidia) and sexual (ascospores) spore types are spread during the spring[4] via wind and rain in which they infect blossoms and young shoots.

[4] Throughout the entire world, brown rot is arguably the most common reason for crop loss of stone fruits both before and after harvest, especially in regions with warmer temperatures and wet climates.

Before the discovery of extremely effective fungicides, when fruit ripened during a period of high rainfall, there were significant losses due to Brown rot blossom blight.

Luckily, scientists have been able to develop strategies for managing or delaying fungicide resistance to Brown rot blossom blight.

Compared to in cooler conditions, at high humidity ash-gray-brown spore masses[3] can form on the diseased flowers and twig cankers.