A quick update on Mummy Berry Development:
Floral bud counts on May 19, 2021 from
the Annapolis Valley Nova Scotia.
All the varieties in the valley are
beyond F2 stage (Figure 1 and 2).
Figure 1(above). Floral buds of Burlington.
Figure 2 (above). Floral buds of Duke.
Most of the apothecia cups (the fruiting bodies that produce the infectious ascospores) were mature and have dried up, eliminating the risk for infection (Figure 3).
Figure
3(above). Drying apothecial cups
Though the weather conditions will be conducive for the next coming week, new infection events from ascospores will not occur. Farms with a history of mummy berry should have put on 1-2 protectant sprays that would protect the plants from further infections.
A complete list of registered products
can be found in Perennia's Highbush Blueberry Disease and Insect
Management Guide.
As a reminder, these recommendations are based on conditions observed in the Annapolis Valley, Nova Scotia and may not be applicable to your location. Infection periods only occur when bud development has reached the F2 stage, monilinia apothecial cups are present, and temperature and moisture levels are ideal.
