Wild Blueberry Blight Line Info - April 29

Friday, April 29, 2011

Special Notes:
• Grower co-operators in various areas of the province monitor flower bud development, apothecial cup development, as well as keep track of temperature and flower bud wetness.
• The decision to control Monilinia Blight is dependent on past history of the disease in a particular field.
• Flower buds become susceptible to Monilinia Blight at the F2 stage (bud scales separating).
• Once fields reach 40-50% F2 and beyond, a fungicide is required within 72 hours of the start of an infection period.
• This application will provide 7-10 days protection.
• Refer to Monilinia factsheets for pictures of the F2 stage and temperature and wetness requirements for an infection period.

The Western part of the province is the earliest blueberry area in Nova Scotia.

Location & Bud Stage
Caledonia (Queens County) - 42% F2
Tatamagouche Mtn (Colchester County) - 22% F2
Spidell Hill (Colchester County) - 12% F2
Highland Village (Colchester County) - 12% F2
Londonderry (Colchester County) - 10% F2
Glenmore (Halifax County) - 5% F2
Cooks Brook (Halifax County) - 27% F2
Rawdon (Hants County) - 11% F2
Earltown (Colchester County) - 10% F2
Swallow Road (Cumberland County) - 28% F2
Farmington (Cumberland County) - 0% F2
Kennel (Cumberland County)- 13% F2
Windham Hill (Cumberland County)- 14% F2
Mapleton (Cumberland County)- 24% F2
Woods Mountain (Cumberland County)- 26% F2
Diligent River (Cumberland County)- 13% F2
Parrsboro (Cumberland County)- 13% F2

There are mature apothecial cups in the Western part of the province. Some early fields in the Western part of the province are now at the critical 40 to 50% F2 stage. Growers should be monitoring their fields for bud development in these areas. For fields at the 40 to 50% F2 stage there were 2-3 infection periods this week from April 26th to April 28th. Growers have 72 hours from the start of the infection period to apply a fungicide in fields at the critical stage. The long range forecast is for showers and sun and cloud.

Take Note:
Next forecast will be on the afternoon of Tuesday, May the 3rd.
Any questions, please contact Rick Delbridge at 902-678-5329.