One Rotten Apple

[viscousmemories]

I've always heard that one rotten apple can spoil the whole bunch. Is that true? Because it seems to me that rotting is just decay, and I don't understand how the decay of an apple can affect neighboring apples. Is decay contagious?

[Gurdur]

Ethylene. IIRC.

A barrel of apples is a semi-enclosed storage space; an apple ripening gives off ethylene gas (IIRC), which encourages other apples to ripen as well (this also works for many other fruits).
The whole point of storing apples in a barrel is that they shouldn't ripen too fast, because once they're too ripe they decay; and yes, that decay is contagious, not only because of ethylene and whatnot produced by the rotting apple, but also because of the insects and bacteria and fungi attracted to and encouraged/supported by the rot.

Decay in all sorts of ways, literal and metaphorical, can be contagious.

[viscousmemories]

Fascinating. Thanks for the info, Gurdur.

[JoeP]

I've always heard that one rotten apple can spoil the whole bunch. Is that true? Because it seems to me that rotting is just decay, and I don't understand how the decay of an apple can affect neighboring apples. Is decay contagious?
Obviously. Case in point: warrenly.

Serious answer :doIhaveto-sigh: ... same as Gurdur's. The decay (as opposed to plain overripening) is caused by microorganisms that are certainly infectious. The fact that ripening itself (which makes decay easier) can also spread is the interesting part.