Blue Dynamo

Building the Latest Understanding in Extension Disease Management that Yields New And Meaningful Outputs

 

Blueberry Fruit Rot Diseases

Anthracnose fruit rot (AFR) and Botrytis fruit rot (BFR) are a significant threat to fruit quality of highbush blueberries in North America.

Anthracnose Fruit Rot

This disease is caused by Colletotrichum spp. which can results in 10-25% pre-harvest yield losses, while up to 100% post-harvest yield loss.

Botrytis Fruit Rot

This disease is caused by Botrytis spp. which can also cause blossom blight, resulting in up to 30-40% pre-harvest yield losses.

Managing Blueberry Fruit Rots Through a Multi-Faceted Approach

Implications of Management

How do fungicide use patterns influence fruit rot pathogens population dynamics?

Molecular Tools

How much does the pathogen have to invest in exchange for fungicide resistance?

Imaging Technology

How can we detect and sort susceptible fruits before symptoms appear?

Outreach and Extension

Which resources will we provide to growers and industry professionals?

About BLUE DYNAMO

Our main goal is to take a multi-faceted approach for developing effective blueberry fruit rot management programs while balancing the cost/benefit ratio to guide farm management decisions.