brown rot

noun

• a fungal disease causing the rotting and browning of parts of plants, in particular:

  • a disease producing discoloration and shrivelling of apples, pears, plums, and other fruit (caused by fungi of the genus Sclerotinia, subdivision Ascomycotina). a disease resulting in the softening and cracking of timber (caused by bracket fungi of the family Polyporaceae, class Hymenomycetes).