5.03.18 Mummy Berry Infection period, May 3 to May 4
Midcoast Region and Hancock Counties
There are mummy berry cups present in Waldo, Knox, Lincoln and Hancock counties. The plants in the Midcoast and Ellsworth area are far past 40% of flower buds at F2. We had a Monilinia infection period starting in most fields in the early afternoon and continuing through this morning. The exception was at our Waldoboro fields where there were significant breaks in leaf wetness of one to two hours which should dry out the fungal spores and prevent them from infecting the plants. Nearby areas may still have gotten long enough leaf wetness to have infections.
Washington County
There are cups reported in many fields in the western part of the county. Whiting/East Machias reports just finding pinheads. Plants in early fields may be susceptible, but check your plants in your fields. At Blueberry Hill farm only 22% of the flower buds were at F2 on Wednesday.
| Location | Start of infection period All on May 3 |
| Waldoboro | None, rain spotty and breaks with dryness. |
| West Rockport | 1:40 p.m. |
| Hope | 1:40 p.m. |
| Searsport | 2:00 p.m. |
| Monteville | not working |
| Aurora | 12:00 p.m. |
| N. Ellsworth | 12:40 p.m. |
| Sedgwick | not working |
| Eastbrook | 12:10 p.m. |
| Deblois | 1:40 p.m., plants ready? |
| Montegail | 1:40 p.m., plants ready? |
| Jonesboro | 2:30 p.m., plants ready? 22% on Wednesday |
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 over Thursday, May 3 night and you are going to apply a fungicide with some kickback activity, Propimax, Bumper, Orbit, Tilt (containing propiconazole) for example or Indar (containing fenbuconazole), you can apply your fungicide in approximately 72 hours of the start of the infection period. For this potential infection period on Thursday night, you would have until approximately Sunday afternoon, May 6.
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.