Conidia of Monilinia spp. germinated at all tested postharvest conditions. Peach maturity stage affected appressorial formation by Monilinia spp. Monilinia spp. formed more appressoria in unfavorable germination conditions. M. laxa conidia germinated better than M. fructicola conidia at low temperatures. M. laxa showed a competitive advantage to survive during fruit postharvest refrigeration and cold storage.