Mummy Berry Forecast Post #5– May 12th, 2023

 

After a warm, dry, breezy week the apothecia at the monitoring sites have dried up and are no longer releasing spores.   Again, keep in mind that these observations are made on the valley floor from Berwick to Aylesford.   So I believe from here on out there will be little risk of primary infections of shoot blight.  Spread of the disease will occur as successful infections on the shoots are transferred by pollinators to the developing blossoms.  This phase of the spread is typically very hard to control which is why we concentrate our control efforts on the primary infection.  

I do not believe that the weather this spring was very conducive to infection.   Therefore, I do not expect to see a lot of disease development going forward. During the last wet spell, during the week of May 1st, the temperature was very cool which slows infections and many growers were covered with a fungicide in anticipation of the event.

Growers should take the time to look for infections in order to evaluate their spray program and timing of applications so that they can adjust their control going forward and know areas of the farm that have high pressure.  

Mummy Berry Forecast Post #4– May 5th, 2023

Early emerged apothecia were still very active when checked this morning and there has been many more that have emerged over the last week.  I have not noted any that have passed maturity up to this point.  With the dry north wind blowing all day and a forecast of dry weather i expect them to dry quickly.  In the mean time growers should make sure they are covered with fungicide during wet events.  with warming temperature infection will take much less time. 

  

Figure 1 above: Active Apothecia taken morning May 5th 

Early varieties continued to advance well this week and i expect to bee some bloom late next week.   

Burlington and Draper 40% at the F2 stage. As a reminder, these observations are based on plantings in the Berwick- Aylesford area on the valley floor.

If varieties achieved 40% F2 stage this week and a wetting period is forecast they should be covered with a fungicde giving them 7 days protection.  

Very early varieties that have been previously sprayed for Monilinia blight are approaching the end of their window of protection and may need to be resprayed, if wet weather is forecast.   

Applications for Mummy berry/Monilinia control should be timed when blueberry buds are at least at 40% F2 stage and before the next forecasted wet period.

Rain interval for most of these products is one hour or when dry.