Wild Blueberry Blight Line Info - May 6

Friday, May 6, 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.

Location & Bud Stage
Victory (Annapolis County) - 66% F2
Caledonia (Queens County) - 90% F2
Sable River (Shelburne County) - 70% F2
Rawdon (Hants County) - 36% F2
Glenmore (Halifax County) - 30% F2
Dean (Musq) - 25% F2
Cooks Brook (Halifax County) - 53% F2
Kemptown (Colchester County) - 8% F2
Earltown (Colchester County) - 48% F2
Swallow Road (Cumberland County) - 75% F2
Tatamagouche Mtn (Colchester County) - 53% F2
Spidell Hill (Colchester County) - 31% F2
Monastery (Antigonish County) - 50% F2
Glencoe (Guysborough County) - 15% F2
Highland Village (Colchester County) - 39% F2
Londonderry (Colchester County) - 39% F2
Benvie Hill - 40% F2

There are mature apothecial cups in mainland Nova Scotia. There are some early fields in the province that are nearing or are above the critical 40 to 50% F2 stage. Growers should be monitoring their fields for bud development in these areas. There were long wet periods on May 4th to the 6th in many parts of the province. These wet periods would be infection periods if the field was at the 40 to 50% F2 threshold or above. Growers have 72 hours from the start of the infection period to apply a fungicide in fields at the critical stage.

A data logger at Rawdon indicated a 36.75 hour long wet period from May 4th to May 6th with an average temperature of 9.3 degrees Celsius.

Some growers are reporting that where Bravo was applied to sprout fields last year, flower buds this year are about 10% ahead of fields not treated with Bravo in the sprout year.

Take Note:
Next forecast will be on the afternoon of Tuesday, May the 10th.
Any questions, please contact Rick Delbridge at 902-678-5329.