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Last Year’s Small Fruit Diseases Equal This Year’s Disease Risk

Posted on March 21, 2023 by ksleonberger

Disease presence last year can indicate a risk for the same disease this year. Many pathogens overwinter on infected plant material or as pathogen survival structures. Poor sanitation practices can lead to an increased risk of these diseases in the upcoming season. A record of small fruit samples submitted to University of Kentucky Plant Disease Diagnostic Laboratories in 2022 are displayed here. The most common diseases of berries (blueberry, blackberry, raspberry, and strawberry) were leaf, Pestalotiopsis, spur blight, or twig blight or canker, anthracnose, leaf spots, and root and/or crown rot (Figure 1).

Figure 1: A summary of berry (blueberry, blackberry, raspberry, and strawberry) disease samples submitted to UK Plant Disease Diagnostic Laboratories in 2022.

Assessment of diseases likely to occur during the growing season provides the opportunity to utilize preventative management measures. The University of Kentucky Plant Pathology Department provides numerous publications with additional information and management options for these diseases. County Extension agents also provide information on disease diagnosis and management.

Additional Resources:

By: Kim Leonberger, Plant Pathology Extension Associate, and Nicole Gauthier, Plant Pathology Extension Specialist                                                                                                                                                                             

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