The adhesion and germination of conidia of nine fungal species were assessed on polycarbonate membranes or on the skin of apple fruit in sealed glass bottles injected or not injected with acetate esters. Adhesion was determined after dislodging conidia from surfaces using a sonication probe. Adhesion and germination of conidia of Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus fumigatus, Aspergillus niger, Penicillium citrinum, Penicillium claviforme, or Trichoderma sp. on membranes after 48 h were not increased in a 1.84 microg mL(-1) headspace of butyl acetate (BA), ethyl acetate, hexyl acetate, 2-methylbutyl acetate, pentyl acetate, or propyl acetate. Adhesion and germination of Botrytis cinerea, Penicillium expansum, and Penicillium roquefortii conidia were stimulated by all esters. Only conidia of B. cinerea and P. expansum exhibited increased adhesion and germination on the skin of apple fruit in bottles exposed to 0.92 microg mL(-1) of BA. Only conidia of B. cinerea and P. expansum produced decay in inoculated puncture wounds on fruit. Freshly made puncture wounds or 24-h-old puncture wounds in fruit were more adhesive than the unpunctured skin of fruit to conidia of B. cinerea or P. expansum. Fresh wounds were more adhesive to both fungi than 24-h-old puncture wounds. The skin and wounds of fruit were as adhesive to B. cinerea conidia as they were to P. expansum conidia. A 4-h exposure to 1.43 microg mL(-1) of BA increased adhesion of B. cinerea and P. expansum conidia in 24-h-old wounds. Results suggest that acetate-ester stimulation most likely is not a rare phenomenon in the fungi. For nutrient-dependent decay pathogens of apple fruit, acetate esters may be an alternative chemical cue used to maintain adhesion of conidia to wound surfaces.