Blog Archives

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

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

Posted in Fruit

Don’t Get Burned by Fire Blight

Fire blight is an important disease of apple, crabapple, pear, and flowering pear in Kentucky. Symptoms are often not observed until late spring or early summer; however, initial infections occur at bloom. The pathogen survives winter in dead, dying, and

Posted in Fruit

Peach Leaf Curl

Peach leaf curl results in disfigured leaves during spring and summer; twigs and fruit may also become infected. Successful management of peach leaf curl begins in fall or early spring, even though symptoms are not seen until leaves emerge. Peach

Posted in Fruit

Commercial Strawberry Grower Survey

Do you grow strawberries commercially? If so, the University of Kentucky Extension Specialists need your help! In order to determine future priorities and grower needs for disease, insect, and weed management, more information about the current challenges that growers face

Posted in Announcements, Fruit

Fruit Scout Website

The IPM Scouting Guide publications for fruit crops were converted into mobile compatible websites beginning in 2017. Now accessing this information is even easier with the creation of the Fruit Scout Website. This new website provides access to the information

Posted in Announcements, Fruit

Fruit, Orchard, and Vineyard Sanitation: Cleaning Up Today May Keep Disease Away

Autumn has arrived in Kentucky, and it is time to focus on fruit, orchard, and vineyard sanitation. Good sanitation practices can help reduce disease-causing pathogens.  These organisms can survive for months or years on dead plant material or in soil,

Posted in Fruit

Sooty Blotch & Flyspeck Make for Ugly Apples

The time for apple harvest in Kentucky has arrived, bringing with it the possibility of less than perfect looking apples. Sooty blotch and/or flyspeck are one of many causes for blemished, ugly apples. The two fungal diseases occur together as

Posted in Fruit

The Rotten Truth about Bitter Rot

While fruit rots have a variety of causes, the most common fungal fruit rot of apple in Kentucky is bitter rot. The disease results in rotten, inedible fruit. Fungicides are available for management; however, sanitation is critical for disease prevention.

Posted in Fruit

Apple Scout Website

The publication An IPM Scouting Guide for Common Problems of Apple in Kentucky was first introduced in 2014 as an online/paper version. In order to improve access to this important scouting guide, a mobile website was developed. The Apple Scout

Posted in Fruit

Apple Bitter Rot Season is Upon Us

While fruit rots have a variety of causes, the most common fungal fruit rot of apple in Kentucky is bitter rot. The disease results in rotten, inedible fruit. Fungicides are available for management; however, sanitation is critical for disease prevention.

Posted in Fruit

Grape Scout Website

The publication “An IPM Scouting Guide for Common Problems of Grape in Kentucky” was first introduced in 2019 as an online/paper version. In order to improve access to this important scouting guide, a mobile website was developed. The Grape Scout

Posted in Fruit

Downy Mildew of Grape

Downy mildew is an important disease of commercial and backyard grapes in Kentucky. Warm, wet, humid weather conditions favor infection and disease development. When flowers, clusters, and shoots become infected by downy mildew, yield losses result. This disease may also

Posted in Fruit

Orchard Math 101: An Explanation of Proper Spray Calculations

Calculations for the application of fungicides and insecticides to commercial orchards are often complicated and can be downright confusing. While these mathematical exercises may leave many scratching their heads, they are critical to the success of a spray program. Over-application

Posted in Fruit

Orange Rust:  Non-Curable Disease in Brambles

Orange rust of brambles can be a concern for Kentucky blackberry and raspberry growers. The first symptoms are often noticed in early spring when newly formed shoots appear weak and spindly. Once infected, the pathogen spreads throughout the entire plant.

Posted in Fruit

Bramble Scout Website

The publication An IPM Scouting Guide for Common Problems of Brambles in Kentucky was first introduced in 2018 as an online/paper version. In order to improve access to this important scouting guide, a mobile website was developed. The Bramble Scout

Posted in Fruit