Commercial Crop Production Small Fruits - Blueberry

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Lisa Dean
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1 Integrated Blueberry Disease anagement Successful management of blueberry diseases requires an integrated approach. Choosing appropriate varieties, a well-suited planting site and good soil preparation are all important for preventing blueberry disease problems. Well-drained soil is especially important for preventing Phytophthora root rot, one of the most significant blueberry diseases. For protection from both frost and disease problems, it also may be beneficial to choose a site from which air can easily drain (not low sites). Select varieties appropriate for your region. For variety recommendations as well as information on how to choose a suitable site and prepare the soil before planting, see LSU AgCenter publications 26, Commercial Blueberry Production and 198, Home Blueberry Production in Louisiana or the ississippi State University Extension Service publication 158, Establishment and aintenance of Blueberries. Start with clean plants. Use plants that have been propagated from clean (disease-free) planting material, and check plants for disease symptoms before planting. Use good cultural practices. Pruning is recommended to remove dead, damaged or diseased limbs so that sunlight and pesticides can penetrate the plant canopy. Pruning recommendations are provided in the LSU AgCenter publication 26, Commercial Blueberry Production. Applying one inch of mulch under plants each year may help minimize the effects of mummy berry disease. Avoid using equipment that has been in orchards infected with mummy berry. Use crop protectants. Prior to using chemicals, have the disease confirmed by a crop specialist. Once the disease has been confirmed, select a labeled product that has been shown to be effective in reducing disease, and apply the product at the correct stage of plant development (Table 1). Chemicals with proven efficacy against a pathogen will not reduce disease if applied at the wrong time. Always rotate between products with different modes of action (in different FRAC groups; see Table 2) to prevent the development of fungicide resistance in the pathogen (disease-causing agent). If a pathogen becomes resistant to a product, the product will no longer be effective. Although some details about chemical application are given in Table 2, always see the label for complete instructions.

2 Table 1. Seasonal fungicide spray schedule for blueberry. Season Fungicide Application Timing Disease Early spring Prebloom Bloom Petal fall and cover sprays Summer For Phytophthora: At planting or, for established plants, while dormant, plus once while conditions favorable (see Table 2) For Exobasidium: At bud swell Green tip or, for mummy berry, when 1%-5% of blooms are open (whichever occurs first); repeat as directed on label 1%-2% bloom through full bloom (2- applications, at interval specified on label) Immediately following bloom, followed by applications at - to 14-day intervals or as directed on label Preharvest and harvest Postharvest Phytophthora Root Rot Exobasidium ummy Berry Twig Blight Exobasidium ummy Berry Twig Blight Botrytis Blight Fruit Rots Exobasidium Fruit Rots Exobasidium Fruit Rots Leaf Spots Fall Postharvest Leaf Spots Phytophthora Root Rot (Phytophthora cinnamomi) Symptoms: Initially, leaves become yellow and plant growth ceases. Rootlets are killed, and infected roots and crowns are discolored. Bushes may defoliate and die. Source of Inoculum: The pathogen survives as chlamydospores in the soil. Disease development is favored by wet soil conditions and temperatures between 68 F and 9 F. anagement: Plant disease-free plants in well-drained soil or raised beds. efenoxam can be applied to soil while plants are dormant. Aluminum tris or phosphite products can be applied to foliage during the entire growing season. If plants are severely infected, chemicals are not likely to result in a return to healthy plant growth. Aluminum tris lb (O-ethyl phosphonate; Aliette WDG ) efenoxam (Ridomil Gold SL) 4.6 pt.2 pt

3 (Ultra Flourish) Phosphites (Fosphite, Rampart) (Fungi-Phite) (Prophyt) (Phostrol) 4.2 pt 14.4 pt see label (rate varies by production and application method) see label Exobasidium Fruit and Leaf Spot (Exobasidium maculosum) Symptoms: Whitish spots occur on undersides of leaves, with light green spots on the upper sides. Spots turn brown over time. Fruit also has spots, which remain unripe as the rest of the fruit ripens. Source of Inoculum: The life cycle of this pathogen is still being studied, but it is thought that the fungus overwinters on the surface of the plant and/or in bud scales or bark and infects the plant in the spring. anagement: Plant in areas with good air movement. Prune appropriately to allow air movement and spray penetration. An application of lime sulfur has been found to be very effective when made at bud swell, before leaves or flowers appear. Other products below can be applied from green tip through the cover spray period. Calcium polysulfide (lime sulfur) + 5 gal gal (5 WP) (8 WDG) qt lb 4. Fenbuconazole 8 (Indar 2F) + 24 fl oz ummy Berry (onilinia vaccinii-corymbosi) Symptoms: This fungus attacks and kills leaves, twigs, flowers and fruit. Infected fruit turn cream to pink as they begin to mature and then shrivel and harden into mummies. Source of Inoculum: The fungus survives in the mummified fruit. Spores are wind-dispersed. anagement: Remove or bury (1 inch depth) mummified fruit. If mummy berry is an ongoing problem then a fungicide spray schedule should be followed. For mummy berry, the first recommended sprays of the season (see Table 1) are very important. Azoxystrobin (Abound F, others) fl oz 4 Azoxystrobin and propiconazole (Quilt Xcel) 11, fl oz 82 fl oz

4 Bacillus subtilis QST 1 strain (Serenade ASO OG ) (Serenade AX OG ) qt 1- lb (5 WP) (8 WDG) qt lb 4. and fenhexamid (CaptEvate 68 WDG),1 4. lb 21 lbs Cyprodinil and fludioxonil (Switch 62.5 WG) 56 oz Fenbuconazole 8 (Indar 2F) + 24 fl oz Fenhexamid (Elevate 5WDG) lb etconazole (Quash) oz.5 oz Propiconazole (Bumper 41.8 EC, Bumper ES, Propiax EC, Tilt, others) + fl oz Prothioconazole (Proline 48 SC) + 5. fl oz 11.4 fl oz Ziram (6DF, Granuflo) + lb -- 9 Stem Cankers and Blights (Phomopsis, Botryosphaeria) Symptoms: Phomopsis twig blight: flower-bearing year-old stems die. Botryosphaeria canker: lesions appear on new growth and turn into cankers on susceptible varieties. Botryosphaeria stem blight: individual branches die. Source of Inoculum: The pathogens survive from year to year in infected stems. Spores are spread by wind or rain. Phomopsis infects stems through flowers. anagement: Avoid mechanical injury to stems. Remove diseased canes/shoots. For Phomopsis twig blight, follow the fungicide spray schedule. Fungicides are not likely to be very effective for management of Botryosphaeria. Fungicide efficacy ratings are for Phomopsis twig blight only. Aluminum tris (O-ethyl phosphonate; Aliette WDG) lb

5 Azoxystrobin (Abound F, others) fl oz 4 + (5 WP) (8 WDG) qt lb 4. Cyprodinil + fludioxonil (Switch 62.5 WG) + 56 oz Fenbuconazole 8 (Indar 2F) 24 fl oz Fluazinam (Omega 5F) pt.5 pt etconazole (Quash) 2.5 oz.5 oz Ziram (6DF, Granuflo) lb -- 9 Botrytis Blight (Botrytis cinerea) Symptoms: The fungus attacks tender young twigs, leaves, flowers and fruit, causing them to become brown to black. Infected fruit do not rot until after harvest. Source of Inoculum: The fungus survives as dormant mycelia or sclerotia. Spores are wind dispersed. anagement: Follow a fungicide spray schedule. Bacillus subtilis QST 1 strain (Serenade ASO OG ) (Serenade AX OG ) qt 1- lb + (5 WP) (8 WDG) qt lb 4. and fenhexamid (CaptEvate 68 WDG), lb 21 lb Cyprodinil and fludioxonil (Switch 62.5 WG) + 56 oz

6 Fenhexamid (Elevate 5WDG) lbs Fluazinam (Omega 5F) pt.5 pt Ziram (6DF, Granuflo) lb -- 9 Fruit Rots (Alternaria, Colletotrichum, Phomopsis) (including Anthracnose Fruit Rot or Ripe Rot) Symptoms: A variety of rots develop on the fruit as they mature. Source of Inoculum: The fungi causing fruit rots survive from year to year on or in infected twigs and for Alternaria, fallen debris. anagement: Harvest ripe fruit regularly, and cool it soon after harvest to minimize postharvest disease development. Follow a fungicide spray schedule, at the interval(s) directed on label(s). Fungicide efficacy ratings are for Alternaria and Colletotrichum (ripe rot), unless noted. Aluminum tris lb (O-ethyl phosphonate; Aliette WDG) (ripe rot only) Azoxystrobin (Abound F, others) fl oz 4 Azoxystrobin and propiconazole (Quilt Xcel) 11, fl oz 82 fl oz + (5 WP) (8 WDG) qt lb 4.8 lb Cyprodinil + fludioxonil (Switch 62.5 WG) + 56 oz Fluazinam (Omega 5F) pt.5 pt etconazole (Quash) oz.5 oz Ziram (6DF, Granuflo) lb -- 9 Leaf Spots (Septoria, rust) Symptoms: Septoria: Small, circular, light-colored lesions with a purple border are produced on leaves, and sunken lesions may be formed on stems. Rust: spots develop on upper sides of leaves and change from yellow to red to brown. Orange spores are produced on the undersides of leaves.

7 Source of Inoculum: Septoria: The fungus survives from year to year in infected leaf debris and stems. Spores are windborne. Rust: The fungus is believed to survive on evergreen plants in the blueberry genus (Vaccinium). anagement: If needed, follow a fungicide spray schedule at the interval(s) directed on label(s). Ratings with (S) next to them indicate they are for Septoria only. Ratings with (R) next to them indicate they are for rust only. Aluminum tris (O-ethyl phosphonate; Aliette WDG) + (S).5 2 lb Azoxystrobin (Abound F, others) 11 (S) + (R) fl oz 4 Azoxystrobin and propiconazole (Quilt Xcel) 11, fl oz 82 fl oz + (5 WP) (8 WDG) (S) (S) (S) qt lb 4.8 lb Chlorothalonil 1 (8.5% F) (54% F) (82.5% DF) (9% DF) pt -4 pt lb pt 12 pt 1.9 lb 1. lb Copper-containing products labeled for use on blueberries, including ones with basic copper sulfate, copper hydroxide, copper oxychloride, copper octanoate, or copper sulfate pentahydrate - some products ORI listed (OG) (R) See label See label Cyprodinil and fludioxonil (Switch 62.5 WG) + (S) 5 Fenbuconazole 8 (Indar 2F) + 24 fl oz

8 Fish oil (Organic Gem Liquid Fish Fertilizer OG, Neptune s Harvest Organic Fish Fertilizer OG ) + (S) See product instructions etconazole (Quash) oz.5 oz Phosphites (Fosphite, Rampart) (Fungi-Phite) (Prophyt) (Phostrol) Propiconazole (Bumper 41.8 EC, Bumper ES, Propiax EC, Tilt, others) (S) (S) (S) (S) + see label (rate varies by product and application method) see label fl oz Prothioconazole (Proline 48 SC) sulfur 11 (icrofine & Yellow Jacket Wettable II OG ; 9%) (icrothiol Disperss OG ; 8%) (S) + (R) (R) 5. fl oz 1- lb 11.4 fl oz (R) 6-1 Bacterial Leaf Scorch (Xylella fastidiosa) Symptoms: In susceptible Southern highbush varieties, the edges of leaves turn brown (marginal necrosis) and eventually drop off the plant, and young twigs and stems may turn yellow. Rabbiteye cultivars may show early fall color, and fruit production may decline over time. Source of Inoculum: Infected plants serve as reservoirs for this bacterium. Bacteria are transmitted through propagation or by sharpshooter insects. anagement: No chemicals are available for disease management. Plant disease-free plants and choose resistant varieties if planting Southern highbush blueberries. See the Southeast Regional Blueberry Integrated anagement Guide ( for insecticide recommendations for leafhoppers. 1 Chemical name (trade name). Reference to commercial or trade names is made for the reader s convenience and with the understanding that no discrimination is intended nor endorsement of a particular product by LSU or the LSU AgCenter is implied. In some cases, other brands are available. 2 ode of action groups are determined by the Fungicide Resistance Action Committee (FRAC). Efficacy ratings are on a scale of 1-5, where 1 (+) is the least effective and 5 (+) is the most effective. uch of the information in this table, including efficacy ratings, is based on the 218 Southeast Regional Blueberry Integrated anagement Guide or 21 Southeast Regional Organic

9 Blueberry Pest anagement Guide of the Southern Region Small Fruit Consortium ( with additional input from Dr. P. Brannen (Univ. of Georgia). 4 Rates are the amount of formulation (product) per acre unless otherwise indicated. Usually 1 gallons of water are required to give good coverage with boom sprayers. 5 Postharvest interval (PHI) is the minimum number of days allowed between the last application and harvest. 6 aximum amount per acre per year or growing season. See labels for additional restrictions. ake sure to get the Aliette WDG that is labeled for use on blueberries. There is a product of the same name that is not labeled for blueberries. 8 If fenbuconazole (Indar 2F) is used during bloom, it should be mixed with captan to prevent a higher incidence of fruit rot. 9 Do not apply later than weeks after full bloom. 1 Do not apply before harvest. any products are available. 11 See labels for restrictions and recommendations regarding use at high temperatures and within given time periods before or after oil applications. This section was updated by Dr. ary Helen Ferguson in October 218.

Commercial Crop Production Small Fruits - Blueberries

Commercial Crop Production Small Fruits - Blueberries Integrated Blueberry Disease anagement Successful management of blueberry diseases requires an integrated approach to disease management. Choosing appropriate varieties and a well-suited planting site