i do not yet own a digital camera so i cannot supply a picture, but if necessary, i can borrow one etc.
my very old apple tree was heavily cut back this last winter. last season, the apples were good. probably a golden delicious type.
this year, the apples started out looking good, but now somthing godawful has happened. if you take a side view, the upper two thirds looks good. then the lower 1/3rd is black and ugly, except for a small healthy area right around the bottom, at the opposite of the stem. it's like someone took a black magic marker and drew all around the lower 1/3. any thoughts??
i sprayed with dormant oil, but on advice of a friend did not start captan until after the blooms fell; every 2 weeks since then. help??? help??? martians?? apple cancer?? neighbor kids with a magic marker [joke]
...reisjdmd, you had me worried -- until I noticed your location (Wisconsin). We've had unusually wet and humid weather for the last couple weeks here in Oregon's Willamette Valley; I wondered if yours wasn't the first report of fungal damage due to it..? I hope not 
Anyway, my 'research' led to Black Rot. Here's two good sites with descriptions, photos and recommendations. Good luck 
Black Rot:
Idyllwild
simplepress
jafar
Marsha H
Viron
John S
1 Guest(s)