The aim of modern fruit farming, as in all other agricultural activities, is to obtain the highest yield and the highest quality product per unit area. This is possible by using modern fruit farming techniques applied by the world's leading fruit-producing countries. We can only use these techniques if we understand the physiological processes occurring in fruit trees and apply plant nutrition techniques accordingly. Flower bud formation in fruit trees is the result of many complex events occurring within the plant. It is impossible to obtain a product without flowering and bud formation. Because fruit trees are perennial plants, they are easily affected by various climate changes. Many factors influence flower bud formation and flowering, including irrigation, fertilization, and the accumulation of nutrients in storage organs (carbon assimilation).

In this context, the rainfall that began with the flowering season in 2026 is still continuing. This situation has increased the occurrence of Monilia disease in the flowers of stone fruit trees. In apricot and other fruit trees infected with Monilia disease, we need to be very conscious and adequate in terms of care, nutrition (fertilization), irrigation, pruning, and pest control so that we can form quality fruit buds and obtain a good yield in our fruit trees the following year. Otherwise, no fruit will be harvested the following year.

In this context, it is very important and necessary for producers in our province to take the following precautions in their orchards after Monilia disease:

1. After the leaves and shoots of the apricot tree reach a certain size, especially in May and June, branches affected by winter and early spring frosts and dried branches, as well as branches infected with Monilia disease, should be pruned and removed from the orchard and burned. The open wounds should be sealed with grafting paste or water-based paint. Pruning tools should be disinfected when moving from tree to tree.

2. When the period of infection and damage from apricot leaf spot (scab) disease arrives, our growers must definitely combat leaf spot disease, whether the tree has fruit or not. Leaf spot disease affects not only the fruit but also the leaves and shoots of the tree. It is especially important for growers to apply leaf spot treatment to prevent shoot death and leaf drop in later stages, particularly in fruit trees.

3. Plant nutrition applications, in order to accelerate plant recovery, should first be applied foliarly (after the leaves reach half their size), using nutrient products containing amino acids or seaweed, as well as microelements such as iron and zinc. This will be beneficial for the rapid repair of plant organs. For fruit trees affected by Monilia disease, fertilizing the soil with phosphorus, nitrogen, zinc, and iron before the first irrigation will be very beneficial for the formation and development of next year's fruit buds.

Plant nutrition products should be applied on time and correctly. Increasing the number of beneficial insects in the soil, as well as the increase in antagonistic organisms, will greatly benefit from using large amounts of well-rotted animal manure, sulfur (powdered sulfur, micronized sulfur, or liquid sulfur), or leonardite (humic acid and fulvic acid) during spring and autumn. This will help reduce or mitigate the effects of the aforementioned disease agents. It should be remembered that more than 90% of the soil in our region has a high lime content, i.e., a high pH value. Fertilization without reducing the lime content and pH value of the soil will not be very effective. Nutrients and soil conditioners should be applied to the tree canopy width and mixed into the soil by plowing.

4. Irrigation systems should be avoided as much as possible, and if mini-sprinkler irrigation systems are installed, they should be designed to wet the canopy projection of the trees, not the trunks. Applications that damage the roots and trunks of trees, such as irrigation and fertilization, should be avoided as much as possible. Apricot producers, in particular, should switch to double drip irrigation systems. One of the most important factors increasing the impact of fungal and bacterial pathogens such as root rot (Phytophthora), verticillium, Eutypa, Cytospora, and bacterial canker (Pseudomonas syringae), which are most commonly found in apricot orchards, is overwatering the root zone.

5. Since there is no chemical control for pests such as cicadas and Capnodis, whose larvae cause damage underground, emphasis should be placed on practices such as keeping poultry in the orchard, destroying larvae by tilling, and weed control. After the rains in April-May and October-November, when the soil is ready for use, tillage should be carried out to aerate plant roots, remove weeds, and eliminate insects and insect eggs. To avoid damaging tree roots, tillage should not be too deep; the tillage depth should be 12-15 cm.

6. If apricot trees are infested with Plum Scale (Scale Insect), prescriptions must be obtained from the Provincial and District Directorates, and control measures must be taken at the right time and with the correct pesticides. Unauthorized pesticides should not be used.

7. When apricot trees shed 70-80% of their leaves in the autumn, a protective measure must be taken using a 3% Bordeaux mixture. Because farmers have abandoned Bordeaux mixture in recent years, disease agents have increased and spread significantly.

8. It is of great importance that apricot producers learn about maintenance, fertilization, and control methods, adhere to the points mentioned above, and that orchard owners experiencing drying out contact the Provincial and District Directorates to obtain information about these practices, get their prescriptions, and request meetings in apricot-growing regions to resolve related problems.