I don't know much about fruit trees, either, Heathen, but Sunset states -

"Brown rot fungus causes flowers to wilt and decay, twigs to crack and ooze sap."

It says to control it, "practice good sanitation - get rid of diseased plant parts to keep fungus from reinfecting the tree next year. Also apply fixed copper or lime sulfur dormant sprays once after autumn leaf drop and again just as buds begin to swell but before they open."

Not sure if that will help, though, or if that's even the problem! :)

Brenda

I haven't had that problem here, and I don't know what to do about it, but I think it can be serious, because in Japan we had a fig tree that had something boring into the trunk in multiple places that way and it died. I seem to remember that someone told me to stick thin wires down into the holes because they contained grubs, but it was no use, so you probably need some sort of chemical solution. Not being very familiar with growing fruit trees, I'm sorry I don't know what that might be.
If no one else here can help, you might try posting on the
Fruit and Orchards forum. I hope you can save your tree.

Here is a link that might be useful: Fruit and Orchards forum

thanks youreit... it's definitely holes, not cracks. thanks biwako... I will check the Fruit and Orchards forum.

It is too late to do anything now but help the tree survive this. All those leaves affected will fall off prematurely and will be replaced by new ones but the tree will be miserable. To help the tree survive this very stressful loss of leaves, apply ammonium sulfate (1 lb per inch diameter of trunk), epsom salt (1/4 cup per cup of ammonium sulfate, epsom salt can be found in the pharmacy section of walmart, costs $1.99 per 4 lb bag, aka magnesium sulfate), complete fertilizer (16-16-16, 1/4 cup per cup of ammonium sulfate). Our purpose here is to help the tree become vigorous when producing its leaves to replace the ones affected. Ultimately these leaves will fall as we enter the dormant season and then follow religiously the steps mentioned below:

Apply lime sulfur fungicide (or copper sulfate, but must use triple strength if copper sulfate) during 75-100% leaf fall (very critical), apply again during Christmas Eve, then one last time during budswell.

This would reduce your infection by at least 95% next year.

Heathen,

how about Peach Twig Borer?

Ryan

Okay... joe, I will do that! I have epsom salts already... thanks! The poor thing looks awful, it's been the Boyfriend's tree, but he's at a loss, so I am taking over.

Ryan... I will look tomorrow, dark now. It's a start. It looks like it might be the right size. thanks!