Indeed, without water on those surfaces, most pathogens cannot long survive. Without water on those surfaces, pathogens generally cannot infect the tissues. Proper pruning should open the plant to wind and sun penetration, allowing for rapid drying of leaf, stem, and fruit surfaces. And this water almost always comes in the form of rain, though overhead irrigation and very heavy dews can also contribute. Practically speaking, nearly all economically important bacterial and fungal fruit pathogens rely on water to increase, spread, and infect (this is not true of most viral pathogens).
Why is this so? The answer begins with an understanding of the pathogens that incite the diseases. Consequently, knowing that proper pruning can aid in disease management is especially important to organic growers. The organic grower has available only a fraction of the disease-suppressive spray products that a conventional grower can use. Properly pruning fruit trees has more than one benefit for the plants and the grower, but, arguably, the most important benefit for organic growers is management of diseases.
Black Rot and Other “Summer Rots” of Apples.Pruning strategies for apples and pears are contrasted with techniques used for other stone fruits, such as plums, peaches, and cherries. It explains how to remove diseased wood and prune branches and discusses how this can control spread of disease and help prevent hosting of pathogens that cause rot. This publication explains why pruning is an especially important disease-management tool for organic tree fruit growers. Ames, NCAT Horticulture Specialist Abstract
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