Recent Posts
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We have received numerous field reports of early (late March) blueberry rust in 2016, likely as a result of a milder than average winter and the recent heavy rainfall observed in many blueberry production areas. It is a good time to start scouting for rust if you have not already done so. Russel Ingram, a…
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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…
Posted in: Pest Management -
The reports of blueberry gall midge infestations in Georgia blueberries have become more common over the last couple of years. Blueberry gall midge, Dasineura oxycoccana (Johnson) (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) was first identified as a pest of rabbiteye blueberries in the southeastern United States in early 1990s. Since then, gall midge has been confirmed as a pest…
Posted in: Pest Management -
Dr. Harald Scherm ran the mummy berry model today, and it indicates that we are currently in a DANGER period for mummy berry disease initiation. Harald stated that the temperature-driven model indicated that apothecium (spore-forming structure that develops from overwintered mummies on the ground and in debris) emergence should be well underway based on the balance of…
Posted in: Disease Management -
By: Scott NeSmith Dept. of Horticulture 1109 Experiment Street Griffin, GA 30223 Old man winter has been slow to visit the Southeast this season, and we desperately need winter cold to stimulate suitable bloom and leaf bud development of blueberries in the upcoming spring. While many of our friends to the North are typically concerned…
Posted in: Plant Growth and Development -
Due to testing conducted at the blueberry research farm (Alma, GA) by Renee Holland (multi-county blueberry agent) in collaboration with Phil Brannen, BASF has now approved application of Pristine + Captan in a tank mix. Testing of the tank mix combination was conducted on multiple rabbiteye and southern highbush cultivars, and no phytotoxicity was observed…
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Posted in: Disease Management
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Based on reports from the field, bloom may be ahead of green tip on some rabbiteye varieties this year. Producers are keenly aware that green tip is utilized to initiate the first application of fungicides for mummy berry, but they sometimes forget that flowers will be susceptible if flower bud expansion occurs before green tip. …
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We have received several reports of blueberry gall midge infestations over the past few weeks. Blueberry gall midge, Dasineura oxycoccana (Johnson) (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) was first identified as a pest of rabbiteye blueberries in the southeastern United States in early 1990s. Since then, gall midge has been confirmed as a pest of blueberries in major blueberry-growing…
Posted in: Pest Management -
Dr. Harald Scherm has determined the mummy berry potential (germination and development of the apothecia); all southern Georgia blueberries that are showing either green tip or early bloom developmental stages are at high risk for mummy berry infection at this time and going forward. This is especially true as temperatures warm up next week and…
Posted in: Disease Management