Notes on Blueberry Diseases
Anthracnose fruit rot
Identification
Anthracnose fruit rot is a common fruit rot on blueberries. This disease
is also known as ripe rot because it appears during or after harvest.
Anthracnose causes the blossom end of ripe fruit to soften. Frequently,
orange spore masses seep out of the infected area.
Anthracnose fruit rot
Period of activity
The disease overwinters in infected twigs. Spores are spread by rain
that splashes to bloom and green fruit. Infected green fruit does not
show symptoms until it ripens. The disease increases with prolonged periods
of warm wet weather during bloom and just before harvest.
Management notes
Overhead irrigation facilitates spore dispersal and infection. Manage
the disease by pruning to encourage air movement within the bush and to
reduce overwintering inoculum. Fungicides applied before bloom and at
petal fall reduce overwintering inoculum and twig blights. After petal
fall, fungicides for fruit rot suppress, but do not control, this disease.
See OMAFRA Publication 360 Blueberry Calendar.
Learn more...
