Did you notice yellow, flagging almond branches this spring?

The anthracnose fungus overwinters in infected mummies left on the tree and in dead twigs or branches resulting from infections the previous year. This year’s infections start when spores are splash dispersed by rain to the bloom or to new nuts. If small nuts are infected, they shrivel and turn a rusty orange color. Later in the season, if hulls are infected when nuts are full size, hulls gum and begin to shrivel. Continue reading →