Apricot Decline Today and Tomorrow

For many years, the causes of apricot decline have remained a matter of controversy. It may now be considered that this early destruction of trees is a result of the joint action of 6 different parasites, which particularly, if not exclusively, attack apricot: 4 fungi, 1 bacterium and 1 mycoplasm‐like organism. Each parasite, per se , is able to destroy trees in a good condition of growth. Some other fungi and some insects may also adversely affect apricot, as they do other fruit species. The development of each disease depends on particular agrotechnical and environmental conditions. As no curative methods are available, control consists of preventive methods. These must be formulated and applied so as to avoid favouring the development of one parasite when preventing that of another. International co‐operative research is required to cope with difficulties in acquiring the necessary data, particularly in the field of disease resistance.