There has been extensive research done at ISU on the Sooty Blotch and Flyspeck fungi that commonly infect apples. These fungi live in the skin of apples and cause blotches of discoloration or tiny black dots. Research has been done to identify how to stop the fungi from occurring by using a warning system to predict when fungal infection is most likely to occur. Techniques for reducing fungi in a less chemically-dependent way have also been identified.
For more information:
Sooty Blotch Prevention
Sooty Blotch Research