This Summerfruit NZ-ALT project will evaluate the most effective biofungicides for Monilinia fructicola (brown rot) control under commercial orchard conditions during the summer of 2026.  

Brown rot is a fungal disease in stonefruit that causes blossom blight in spring and fruit rot which can result in significant crop losses.  

The field trial will be carried out in a Hawke’s Bay peach orchard.

It follows two years of laboratory-based screening, funded by Summerfruit NZ and carried out by Bioeconomy Science Institute (BSI), Plant & Food Research group, that identified four biofungicides effective against brown rot. 

Data and insights on biofungicide performance and efficacy from the project will support wider work across the ALT programme focusing on fungal diseases.  

Read more about the project:  

• September 2025: Cross-sector benefits from summerfruit biofungicide trial