Fruit Tree Pathology Lab at Virginia Tech
Sooty Blotch and Flyspeck (SBFS) of apple are caused by a large group of fungi which grow superficially on waxy cuticle of apple fruit. Usually, flyspeck caused by Zygophiala jamaicensis shows first and then the sooty blotch appears, which is caused by a complex of …
All the major apple fungal diseases in the Shenandoah Valley are visible in 2023 growing season: apple scab (Figs 1, 2), powdery mildew (previous post from 8 May), and rust (Fig. 4). On 16 May, I found first fresh scab infections on ‘Gala’ leaves (Fig. …
1. If any young trees planted late are in bloom, or any cider cultivars are maybe in bloom in Northern VA, fire blight infection reported by NEWA EIP model on 8 May should have been controlled by streptomycin application in mix with Regulaid or Li700 …
1. On 29th April, first blossom blight symptoms were found by Bill Mackintosh (Figs 1, 2). Most likely these infections of flowers have established either on the 5th or 6th April or 16 or 17 April, with the latter being the more likely scenario as …
Apples are at Petal Fall or beyond on early cultivars at in Winchester. From 28 – 30 April 2023, we are expecting multiple rain events followed by the slow drying conditions as per the NWS forecast visible at this moment. This is predicted to lead …
(1) If any commercial apple cultivars for fresh fruit production, young non-bearing orchards, or cider cultivars are still in bloom (young flowers opening), they will need protection before 22 April for fire blight infection predicted on that day with oncoming rain events 21-22 April. Before …
Apples are in bloom in Winchester and from 14– 17 April 2023, and besides fire blight threat I addressed in my previous blog post from today, we are expecting multiple rain events as per the NWS forecast. These many rain events will allow longer leaf …
Severe fire blight infections are imminent 14-16 April in Whole Virginia. Apply protective sprays today for any pome fruit in bloom, even if you have less then 5% flowers left on cultivars that are in petal fall. Below are mix options to use, but preventive …
We are in bloom in Northern VA. Based on the weather forecast as it stands now, if showers predicted in NWS with a 17-53% chance to occur on Saturday 15th or Sunday 16th April they will lead to infection by fire blight. The only exception …
TO ALL SOUTH CENTRAL VA POME FRUIT GROWING AREAS: There is a significant risk that today’s thunderstorm(s) will bring hail and 60 mph gusts at locations listed below. If in your or in neighboring orchard there was a recent history of fire blight be ready …