4.28.18 Possible Mummy Berry Infection in Knox, Lincoln and Waldo on April 28
At our weather stations in Waldo, Knox and Lincoln counties there were conditions that could cause infection at all weather stations for the rain from Friday, April 27 to today, Sat. April 28. Most growers were reporting their plants were not ready earlier in the week. Please check your plants. If they do not have approximately 30 to 40% of the flower buds at F2 stage, you probably do not have enough tissue to be infected. Please let me know what you find with your plants.
| Location | Start of infection period | Mummy berry cups |
| Waldoboro | April 27, 10:00 a.m. | cups |
| West Rockport | April 27, 5:10 p.m. | not seen |
| Hope | April 27, 4:50 p.m. | not seen |
| Searsport | April 27, 5:20 p.m. | not seen |
| Monteville | April 27, 5:10 p.m. | no plot |
The next rain is forecast for later next week. You can apply fungicides as a protective application before an infection period, but should still consider if your plants have enough exposed tissue. If you do think you have had an infection period and you are going to apply a fungicide with some kickback activity (propiconazole or fenbuconazole), you can apply your fungicide in approximately 72 hours of the start of the infection period. For this potential infection period, you would have until approximately Monday, April 30th afternoon.
Please see the 2018 fungicide recommendations on the Fact Sheet 219 – Disease Control Guide for Wild Blueberries and check with your buyer before applying any fungicides to your crop.
– Seanna Annis