Monilinia Blight Forecast Post #8 May 16th

The highbush blueberries at the Monilinia observation sites from Waterville to Aylesford are in the tight cluster to pink bud stage.  Apothecia have dried up and are no longer releasing spores.   If you have a later site with more moisture, this may not be the case and growers on these sites should continue monitoring the forecast and spraying ahead of wet conditions.    

This Monilinia season may have been condensed compared to other years (with its late start) and was marked with precipitation on May 7th-8th and 10th. 

I believe it is important to monitor infections and secondary infections, as the season progresses.  This will allow growers to evaluate your spray program to see if it is adequate for years which maybe longer with more infection periods.   

This will conclude the Monilinia Blight Forecasting Blogg for the season as we move onto other challenges .......weed control, botrytis, anthracnose and SWD just to name a few. 

 

Monilinia Blight Forecast Post #7 May 12th

 

Intense rain was experienced across much of Nova Scotia over the weekend.   Many growers sprayed late last week in anticipation of the rain on Saturday, and they are expected to be protected.   

IF growers had not sprayed for Monilinia blight going into the weekend they are urged to spray ASAP using the 72-hour post infection activity of the group 3 fungicides to reach back and help control some of the Monilinia blight infection which may have taken place. 

 

The weather forecast for this week looks dry and favourable for the rest of this week.  I will update the blog later in the week with observations of apothecia from the monitoring sites.