A Detailed Guide to Common Blueberry Diseases and Their Control Methods
Blueberry is a perennial small shrub fruit tree. Because the fruit it produces is blue, it is called blueberry. Blueberries contain very rich nutritional components, such as anthocyanins. Anthocyanins help activate the retina, strengthen vision, and can also prevent eye fatigue. Blueberry is a small fruit tree, so the probability of corresponding diseases occurring also increases. So what diseases can blueberries develop? How should these diseases be controlled? Let's take a look below!
1. Crown gall disease
Crown gall disease mainly occurs during the transition period between spring and summer. In the early stage of infection, it appears as slightly protruding swellings on the roots, or milky-colored tumor-like growths with an uneven surface. These tumor-like growths will slowly expand, gradually becoming larger and darker, until finally the entire root system turns dark brown. Crown gall disease affects the plant's absorption of water and nutrients, causing the plant to be unable to grow and develop normally. When selecting seedlings, choose seedlings that are growing well, robust, and disease-free. If infected plants are found, they should be removed immediately. Meet the plant's required water and fertilizer amounts. When cultivating and fertilizing, be careful not to damage the roots. If tumor-like growths are found, cut them off promptly, and after cutting, bandage and disinfect the wound.
2. Mummy berry disease
Mummy berry disease is mainly caused by fungal pathogens. The hyphae develop inside and outside the cells of leaves and flowers, causing the cells to rupture and die because they cannot withstand it. Cell rupture causes the stems, leaves, and flowers to lose vitality and become withered and listless. After a month, these pathogens will gradually spread to the leaves, stems, and flowers, and infect newly opened flowers. After that, all the affected leaves, fruits, stems, and flowers will completely wither, dry up, and fall off. The best way to control mummy berry disease is to spray some urea in early spring at the initial stage of the disease, and spray some zineb before flowering to control the invasion of pathogens.
3. Stem canker
Stem canker is also a disease caused by fungal pathogens. It mainly harms the stems, causing the stems to dry up and wither, and in severe cases in summer, the plant may even die. Under high temperature and drought conditions, the leaf color gradually turns brown. After the branches mature, the leaves curl and wrap around the branches. It is mainly spread through media such as rain and wind. When the blueberry trees are dormant and overwintering, cut off the dried, withered, and discolored branches. The diseased parts of affected branches must all be cut back to normal parts. When first choosing an orchard site, choose a plot where disease has not occurred. Fertilize frequently to promote rapid branch maturity, and combine with pesticides used to control mummy berry disease to reduce the incidence rate.
The three diseases above are the most likely to occur during blueberry cultivation, but they are definitely not the only diseases. There are also gray mold, black spot, and so on. When abnormal conditions are found in blueberries, observe the symptoms promptly, determine the disease type, and then apply the appropriate treatment. Do not blindly use chemicals, and do not mix all chemicals together for convenience, because excessive concentration will burn the blueberry roots and seriously affect yield.