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How to Manage Pests

UC Pest Management Guidelines

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Almond

Most Effective Treatment Timings For Key Diseases

(Reviewed 3/09, updated 3/09)

In this Guideline:

Note: Not all indicated timings may be necessary for disease control.

Disease Dormant Bloom Spring1 Summer
  Pink bud Full bloom Petal fall 2 weeks 5 weeks May June
Alternaria — — — — — +++ +++ +++
Anthracnose2 — ++ +++ +++ +++ +++ +++ ++
Brown rot — ++ +++ + — — — —
Green fruit rot — — +++ — — — — —
Leaf blight — — +++ ++ + — — —
Rust — — — — — +++ +++ +3
Scab4 + — — ++ +++ +++ ++ —
Shot hole5 +6 + ++ +++ +++ ++ — —
Rating: +++ = most effective, ++ = moderately effective, + = least effective, and — = ineffective
1 Two and five weeks after petal fall are general timings to represent early postbloom and the latest time that most fungicides can be applied. The exact timing is not critical but depends on the occurrence of rainfall.
2 If anthracnose was damaging in previous years and temperatures are moderate (63°F or higher) during bloom, make the first application at pink bud. Otherwise treatment can begin at or shortly after petal fall. In all cases, application should be repeated at 7- to 10-day intervals when rains occur during periods of moderate temperatures. Treatment should, if possible, precede any late spring and early summer rains. Rotate fungicides, using different fungicide classes, as a resistance management strategy.
3 Treatment in June is important only if late spring and early summer rains occur.
4 Early treatments (during bloom) have minimal effect on scab; the 5-week treatment usually is most effective. Treatments after 5 weeks are useful in northern areas where late spring and early summer rains occur. Dormant treatment with liquid lime sulfur improves efficacy of spring control programs.
5 If pathogen spores were found during fall leaf monitoring, apply a shot hole fungicide during bloom, preferably at petal fall or when young leaves first appear. Re-apply when spores are found on new leaves or if heavy, persistent spring rains occur. If pathogen spores were not present the previous fall, shot hole control may be delayed until spores are seen on new leaves in spring.
6 Dormant copper treatment seldom reduces shot hole infection but may be useful in severely affected orchards and must be followed by a good spring program.

[Precautions]

PUBLICATION

[UC Peer Reviewed]

UC IPM Pest Management Guidelines: Almond
UC ANR Publication 3431
General Information
F. G. Zalom, Entomology, UC Davis
C. Pickel, UC IPM Program, UC Cooperative Extension, Sutter/Yuba counties
W. J. Bentley, UC IPM Program, Kearney Agricultural Center, Parlier
D. R. Haviland, UC IPM Program, UC Cooperative Extension, Kern County
R. A. Van Steenwyk, Insect Biology, UC Berkeley
Acknowledgment for contributions to Insects and Mites:
R. E. Rice, Kearney Agricultural Center, Parlier
L. C. Hendricks, UC Cooperative Extension, Merced County
R. L. Coviello, UC Cooperative Extension, Fresno County
M. W. Freeman, UC Cooperative Extension, Fresno County

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