Uh oh, wwyd about my apple tree problem?

[FlaviaAlbiaWantsLangClegBack]

I noticed a dead branch on my apple tree when I was pruning it but DC and other stuff happened and I didn't get round to getting the saw out until the other day. I've got rot in the branch which I've cut back as far as I can.

To remove the rot, I'll need to cut the branch it adjoins to, but unfortunately it's a dwarf tree and that'll be half of it gone if I do that. I'm undecided whether to risk leaving it until autumn so I can get apples from the healthy branch or cut it out now in case it spreads too far by then and I lose the whole tree.

What would you do?

Gosh, I have no idea whether this is the right thing to do or not, but I would just leave it?
I see lots of trees out and about with holes like this and they seem to carry on living just fine?

If it's a spreading rot sort of thing then leaving it might mean you lose the tree. I'd cut it back as hard as necessary. I was always told to cut out diseased branches back to healthy wood.

Yeah, it did spread from further up the branch where the bark seems to have been damaged. I'm leaning towards that opinion Dont with a little temptation to leave it for the apples. Kicking myself for not noticing before but it's been so wet this winter I haven't been up and down the garden as much as usual.