Captan is under a draft risk assessment in the registration review process and the deadline to submit comments was extended to March 15, 2019. You can submit your comments at this link. We appreciate your supporting comments on the benefits of captan – its role in disease management and in fungicide…
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Recent warmer, damp weather has led blueberry growers in the southern region of Georgia to initiate sprays for mummy berry disease. According to the mummy berry model developed by Dr. Harald Scherm (UGA), there is a HIGH RISK for mummy berry disease initiation in southern Georgia as of February 12th, 2019. …
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In the southern region of Georgia, recent bouts of warmer than normal weather and earlier than normal emergence of leaves has led to the question of whether there is currently a risk of mummy berry infections developing. According to the mummy berry model developed by Dr. Harald Scherm (UGA), as of…
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Spotted wing drosophila (SWD), Drosophila suzukii (Matsumura) (Diptera: Drosophilidae) is an invasive and economically important pest of many soft-skinned fruits such as blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, strawberries, cherries, and other. Since its first detection in California in 2008, SWD spread rapidly across the United States. It was first found in Georgia…
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Flower thrips are chronic pests of both southern highbush and rabbiteye blueberries in the southeastern United States. Thrips are minute (1 to 1.3 mm long) insects with slender body and usually yellowish to orange in color. Adults have long thin wings fringed with fine hairs (Figure 1). Females are generally larger than males. Both adults and nymphs have rasping and sucking mouthparts, which are used to extract cell sap from plant tissues.
Following the damage to blueberries in Georgia caused by recent freezes, the threat exists for subsequent damage from fungal pathogens. On tissues already damaged by the freezes, two fungal pathogens of particular concern are Botrytis and Botryosphaeria. Botrytis The fungus Botrytis cinerea causes Botrytis flower blight and fruit rot on…
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The weekend of March 3rd was cold enough to cause damage in southern highbush. Extension agents have observed damage in Pierce and Ware Counties. During the last few weeks, both southern highbush and rabbiteye blueberries have moved through bloom stages rapidly. As we all well know, developing fruit is very…
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In the southern region of the state, leaf emergence on blueberries coupled with recent rains and warmer temps leads to the question of whether mummy berry will be an issue (infections at green tip or early bloom, whichever comes first). Mummy berry disease epidemics are set-up by the synchronized release…
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The reports of blueberry gall midge infestations in Georgia blueberries have become more common over the last couple of years. Although blueberry gall midge has historically been referred to as a rabbiteye problem, recently it has been reported to be a concern in some southern highbush fields. The majority of…
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