Thornless blackberry , having fruit with valuable he alth-promoting properties and more and more often found in our gardens, can be infected by diseases that cause both yield reduction and deterioration of fruit quality. Find out about the most dangerousthornless blackberry diseases , find out how to recognize them and what are the best ways tofight blackberry diseasesHere's what to do to keep blackberries he althy!
Such stains on blackberry leaves indicate that they are infected with a disease. Photo pixabay.com
1. Blackberry shoot dieback
Shoot dieback is one of the most dangerous diseases of blackberrycaused by several species of fungi. The shoots can become infected even in the first year after planting.oblong light brown or brown spots with a purple tingeappear on the lower part of the shoots, depending on which species of fungus affects them. Discoloration may also appear on the leaves. At the end of summerthe bark peels and cracksTwo-year shoots weaken during flowering and fruiting. At the end of Mayshoots die, leaves turn brown and wilt, and the fruit, produced in a small amount, dries upAt this time, the spores infect young blackberry shoots.
To prevent this disease from developing , remember that plants cannot grow too densely. Ideally the shoots should hang on wire supports and the brambles should be cut regularly.It should be ensured that our plantation does not have weeds that compete for nutrients and water, the lack of which can further weaken the plants. In the presence ofsymptoms of this disease, blackberriesare used plant protection products: Yamato 303 SE, Topsin M 500 SC in the recommended doses and dates specified on the product label.
Stains on leaves which are symptoms of blackberry rust
Fig. CSIRO, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
2. Thornless Blackberry Rust
The nextserious disease is blackberry rust , which can destroy over 50% of plantations. The first symptoms appear in early June asyellow or yellow-orange pillow-like lesionsthat contain fungal spores. These symptoms mainly appear on young shoots and on the underside of leaves.Light brown spots with red fringes appear on the upper side of the leaves At the end of the season, black dots form among the spots, in which there are spores. Simply put,the plant looks rusty , hence the name of the disease. This disease ultimately causes premature leaf fall and weakening of the entire plant due to the reduction of the assimilation area.
Blackberry rust - sprouts from the underside of the leaf
Fig. CSIRO, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Fighting this blackberry diseaseas usual, we start with natural methods of protection, in this case you should choose he althy, certified propagating material and varieties less susceptible to rust. You should also pay attention to the fact that the plants are not too thickened and not overgrown with weeds. Blackberries must also not be overfertilized with nitrogen. Chemical control is difficult because there are no currently registered plant protection products to combat blackberry rust.
3. Gray mold
Blackberry Gray Moldis a disease caused by the fungus Botrytis cinerea. It is a polyphagic fungus, i.e. it attacks many plants.Symptoms of infection in the case of thornless blackberriesappear during the period of fruit ripening, which begins to rot massively. A gray coating resembling a sheepskin appears on the surface of the fruit, in which there are spores of the fungus. The infection with this fungus itself occurs during the formation of buds and flowers, and in the case of a strong infection, it may lead to their death.
Blackberry gray mold is manifested by fruit rot on the bush. Photo pixabay.com
Prevention of this thornless blackberry diseaseshould start as usual with non-chemical methods. In this case, it is necessary to remove last year's weeds and fallen leaves in early spring so that the fungus has nothing to grow on. For the control of gray mold with chemicals, the situation is better than for other diseases, as several measures are registered for this disease: Yamato 303 SE, Topsin 500 SC, Switch 62.5, WG, Serenade ASO (microbial fungicide), Luna Sensation 500 SC.
Raspberry anthracnose on blackberry
Raspberry anthracnose isa fungal disease that also attacks blackberriesIt is especially dangerous in wet and cool years. It occurs to a great extent in western Poland. The disease is caused by a fungus from the Ascomycota group, wintering in the soil on plant debris.Symptoms of this disease on blackberriesoften appear on young shoots in the form of purple spots that gradually increase in size. They cause bark cracking, shoot withering, deformation of infected fruit. Prevention of the disease is primarily collecting fallen leaves, dead shoots, and quick removal of infected shoots. Unfortunately, no resistant varieties are available at the moment. Chemical control is carried out using Luna Sensation 500 SC and Switch 62,5 WG.
AllBlackberry Disease Spraymust be used in accordance with the label at the recommended doses and dates. Some of the mentioned preparations are intended for professional users.Amateurs growing blackberries in home gardens and allotments, among the above-mentioned preparations, can mainly use the following funds: Topsin M 500 SC and Switch 62.5 WG. These measures can be ordered in the shop of our guide. We guarantee an attractive price and fast shipping. To go to the store press the button below.
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MSc Eng. Katarzyna Żywot-Górecka
