Excess nitrogen raises nectarine susceptibility to disease and insects

Abstract

A multidisciplinary study was carried out to examine the effects of nitrogen fertilization on nectarine yield, fruit quality, brown rot [?Monilia laxa] and moth pests. The results indicated that excess nitrogen fertilization did not increase fruit yield or improve fruit quality; however, fruits on overfertilized trees were more susceptible to attack from brown rot, peach twig borer [Anarsia lineatella] and oriental fruit moth [Grapholita molesta].