Saskatoon Woes

There are many small plantings of saskatoons out there and as production increases, so do pest problems. The following two diseases were common this year.

Saskatoon -juniper rust: This fungus develops on junipers in wet springs, and spreads to saskatoons. It infects leaves and fruit causing bright-orange and sometimes spiky lesions.

Entomosporium leaf and berry spot: This is the most serious disease of saskatoons. The fungus causes small angular brown spots on leaves, especially on lower leaves. The leaves eventually turn yellow. If petioles are infected, leaves drop. Infected fruit have watery greyish lesions, causing fruit to be misshapen, cracked or shriveled.

Control of these diseases on saskatoons requires an early season fungicide program using Topas 250E and Funginex 190 EC. Make a note for next year.

Saskatoon -juniper rust

Entomosporium leaf and berry spot

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