If you had problems with fire blight last year, this is for you: The best preventative measures for fire blight are the application of streptomycin at bloom to prevent blossom blight and the application Apogee at petal fall to reduce shoot blight. Yes, Apogee is expensive. It is worth every single penny. Apply streptomycin just[Read More…]
Janna L Beckerman
Professor of Plant Pathology
Department of Botany
Area(s) of Interest: Ornamental and Fruit Diseases
Janna L Beckerman's website
Department of Botany
Area(s) of Interest: Ornamental and Fruit Diseases
Janna L Beckerman's website
Calculate the 77 days to harvest date for each of your cultivars and make the final application of EBDC fungicide (Dithane M-45, Manzate 200, Penncozeb, Polyram, Roper) on that date to take full advantage of the excellent control these fungicides provide for bitter rot, black rot, and white rot, in addition to sooty blotch and[Read More…]
Check list: ~Indiana Disease management program for apples for 2018 is available at: https://www.extension.purdue.edu/extmedia/BP/BP-201-W.pdf This information is identical to the Midwest fruit pest management guide, but provided in a table format and includes Fungicide Resistance Action Committee (FRAC) Codes, REI, PHI and efficacy information for each product (Fig. 1). ~Reducing overwintering inoculum for apple scab:[Read More…]
Summer rots continue to rear their ugly heads (Fig. 1). This year, we are even seeing them on late season apples like Evercrisp (Fig 2) and GoldRush. On the plus side, we are seeing some level of control with all fungicides in our trials (data will be presented at the Indiana Hort Congress); unfortunately,[Read More…]
Fruit rots continue to pose a problem for those of us in the wetter parts of the state. Frequent rains and warm temperatures really set the stage for bitter rot, black rot, white rot, and even brown rot. Any rain event that produced more than 2” of rain would remove the majority of fungicide, meaning[Read More…]
In 1907, Thomas Burrill wrote that regarding bitter rot, “There was nothing to do but to helplessly submit to the inevitable.” However, he continued and stated “that what formerly seemed incomprehensible is easily understandable.” Some key points he touches on regarding the management of bitter rot are weather conditions and sanitation. Obviously, there is little[Read More…]
It may seem like the worst is over, but apple growers should continue to be vigilant and apply fungicides even as we approach the end of the ascospore discharge period. Leaves are still highly susceptible to both primary and secondary apple scab infection until the terminal bud has set and the leaves have hardened off.[Read More…]
Diagnosing Phytophthora crown rot is difficult. First examine the crown and rule out any type of mechanical damage, including rodent damage. Early symptoms of root and crown rot include delayed bud break, small leaves (often with leaf discoloration), and twig dieback. Bark discoloration, unthrifty growth, and premature leaf drop may occur later in the season[Read More…]