Brown rot (Monilinia fructicola) is a fungal disease of peaches and other stone fruits. Infection can lead to the entire crop rotting on the tree. An infected tree with mummified fruit and canker is at bottom centre. At left apothecia (cup-like cup-like reproductive structures) from these infections produce ascospores (orange) that infect the next year’s blossom and young shoots. Infections can also occur via conidia (white) that are released by the fungus as it grows on the fruit, wilted blossoms and in cankers. Originally created for Science News Magazine