Cooperative Extension: Maine Wild Blueberries

Infection by Mummy berry fungus unlikely this weekend

Print

There are mummy berry (fungus name Monilinia) pinheads, developing cups, and/or active cups being produced plots have been examined in Midcoast and Downeast blueberry fields. In the fields I have reports from, the flower buds are just starting to progress into F2 (T2) stage when they look like a crown. I suggest you wait until approximately 30 to 40% of your field’s flower buds are at the F2 stage before applying fungicides. Before this the flower and leaf buds are still mostly enclosed in their bud scales and are at a very low risk of infection.

There is rain forecast for this weekend, but I think it will be very low risk of Monilinia infection. If you have an earlier developing field, your field will be at higher risk.

Please let me know how your mummy berry plot and plants are doing. Thank you, Seanna

Table showing the percent of flower buds at each stage, with T2 and beyond being susceptible. Data also shown that mummy berry cups are active at all sites checked.