Updates on Spotted-wing Drosophila (SWD) activity in Indiana blueberries Zihan (Lilac) Hong and Elizabeth Y. Long, Purdue Entomology Summer is a time we always look forward to delicious fresh fruit! According to the 2017 USDA Census of Agriculture, 150+ farms grow some 600 acres of blueberries in Indiana! Some common varieties include Bluecrop, Bluejay, Blueray,[Read More…]
Bramble Fruit
Throughout Indiana orchards, Phytophthora root and crown rot continues to be a major cause of tree death (Fig. 1), and losses in small fruit, as well (Fig. 2). The disease is caused by the several members of the genus Phytophthora, and includes (but is by no means limited to) the following species): P. cactorum, P.[Read More…]
After what can only be described as a very early spring, we are entering the unusual situation of worrying about fire blight in April. Summer-like weather, rainfall, thunderstorms and hail mean that growers should be very concerned about fire blight. It is important to note that the fire blight pathogen, Erwinia amylovora, is always present[Read More…]
Spring temperatures and the season so far It seems like it’s been warm and that we’re way ahead of normal. But the data paint a slightly different picture. First, let’s not talk too much about “normal”. In the last 10 years or so that I’ve been plotting these data, EVERY year has been warmer than[Read More…]