ISHS Acta Horticulturae 715: VIII International Symposium on Vaccinium Culture
BLUEBERRY DISEASE MANAGEMENT IN THE SOUTHEASTERN UNITED STATES |
| Authors: | W.O. Cline, P.M. Brannen, H. Sherm |
| Keywords: | Vaccinium corymbosum, Vaccinium ashei, fruit quality, leaf spots, stem canker, stem blight, mummy berry, fruit rots |
| Abstract:
Blueberry production in the southeastern United States presents special disease management challenges due to a warm, wet climate, extended growing season, unique cultivars, and the presence of numerous endemic pathogens. Diseases with well known epidemiology in other production areas may differ markedly in their epidemiological behavior in the Southeast. As a result, rabbiteye and southern highbush cultivars require cultural practices and fungicide treatment regimes that vary considerably from those used for highbush cultivars in northern states. Surveys indicate that fungal pathogens are of primary concern, while the blueberry viruses common elsewhere have not been detected extensively. Indeed, no major viruses have been reported, and minor viruses have only been observed sporadically. Management of leaf spot diseases pre and post harvest has been shown to improve bud set for the following year, and post harvest mowing is commonly used to control both bush height and leaf spot incidence. Growers use short picking intervals and forced air cooling to extend shelf life and reduce rots in harvested fruit. | |
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