{"id":10724,"date":"2015-04-29T11:17:09","date_gmt":"2015-04-29T15:17:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/blueberries\/?p=10724"},"modified":"2020-04-15T11:47:10","modified_gmt":"2020-04-15T15:47:10","slug":"mummy-berry-season-2015-is-here","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/blueberries\/2015\/04\/29\/mummy-berry-season-2015-is-here\/","title":{"rendered":"4.29.15 Mummy Berry Season 2015 is Here"},"content":{"rendered":"

Knox, Lincoln and Waldo Counties<\/strong><\/h3>\n

I\u00a0 have reports from West Rockport, Liberty, and Appleton that numerous mummy berry pinheads (the precursors to apothecia) and a few mature mummy berry cups (apothecia) capable of producing spores are present.\u00a0 These will continue to develop with the rain we have been getting and I expect we will have lots of mature cups by the end of the week.<\/p>\n

The plants are not as far developed.\u00a0 Reports and what I have seen, it looks like we are getting quite a few F2 (crown stage) flower buds but are not at 40% at the crown stage yet. \u00a0 Please look at your plants and count your flower buds (see below) to see what stage your plants are.<\/p>\n

Hancock and Washington Counties<\/strong><\/h3>\n

I have reports from Ellsworth, Eastbrook, Jonesboro and throughout the barrens from Columbia to Wesley that pinheads are starting and some very early cups have been see in a few fields too.<\/p>\n

\"Picture<\/a>Again the plants are not ready yet in these areas.\u00a0 I have reports of some F2 flower buds but not yet at 40%. Please look at your plants and count your flower buds (see below) to see what stage your plants are.<\/p>\n

When are Plants Susceptible?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Flower and leaf buds are protected from the fungus when they are enclosed in their bud scales.\u00a0 They need to open up and expose new tissues before they are susceptible.\u00a0\u00a0 The best way to determine when you have enough susceptible tissue to apply fungicides is to look at the flower bud development.\u00a0 Look at a minimum off ten stems (preferably 20 stems)\u00a0 randomly chosen across your field.\u00a0 Count the total number of flower buds and the number of flower buds at F2 stage (see picture).\u00a0 Divide the number of Flower buds at F2 by your total number of flower buds and multiple by 100 which will give you your percent of F2 Flower buds.\u00a0 You want to count all of your flower buds\u00a0 since most of the time the buds at the top of the stems are faster than the lower buds and if you just count those you will over estimate how far along your plants are.\u00a0 When you are at 40% many of the leaf buds will also be showing some green and\u00a0 will be susceptible.<\/p>\n

Timing of Fungicide Applications<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Keep in mind you should rotate your fungicides if you make more than one application. Most of the Group 3 fungicides allow only two applications per year due to concerns about resistance developing.<\/p>\n