Does peach kernel rust affect color fading in the later stage

Peach kernel rust generally does not affect the color fading in the later stage, but it may reduce the appearance quality of the fruit. Peach kernel rust is mainly caused by fungal infection or environmental factors, manifested as rust spots on the skin, and usually does not affect the color and taste of the flesh. Peach kernel rust is a common physiological disease in the growth process of peach trees, mainly induced by fungal infections such as Alternaria or low temperature and high humidity environments. In the early stages of the disease, small yellow brown spots appear on the fruit skin, gradually expanding to form rust spots, which may cover the entire fruit surface in severe cases. Rust spots mainly stay in the skin layer and rarely penetrate into the interior of the flesh, so they have no significant effect on the intrinsic quality of the flesh such as color and sugar content. But rust spots can cause the skin to become rough and the glossiness to decrease, reducing the value of the product. To prevent fruit rust, it is necessary to strengthen orchard management, avoid canopy closure, timely drainage during the rainy season, and spray protective fungicides such as mancozeb after the flowering period. In rare cases, if fruit rust is co infected with other diseases such as anthracnose or brown rot, it may accelerate fruit decay and indirectly affect the color of the fruit flesh. This type of situation needs to be controlled through comprehensive measures such as fruit removal and chemical control. Peach varieties have significant differences in resistance, with lower incidence of disease in smooth skinned varieties such as peaches, while hairy peaches are more susceptible to the disease. Avoiding the use of fungicides such as copper based agents that are prone to drug damage one month before harvesting can reduce the probability of fruit rust occurrence.

It is recommended that fruit farmers regularly prune peach trees to improve ventilation and light transmission, and increase the application of phosphorus and potassium fertilizers during the fruit swelling period to enhance disease resistance. Early rust spots can be manually removed from the affected area and treated with therapeutic agents such as benzoxazole, but attention should be paid to the safety interval. If consumers only have rust spots on the skin and no signs of decay when purchasing, it can still be safely consumed after peeling, and its nutrition is no different from normal fruit.