UC IPM: UC Management Guidelines for Powdery Mildew on Caneberries

UC Pest Management Guidelines

Caneberries

Powdery Mildew

Pathogen: Sphaerotheca macularis

(Reviewed 12/09, updated 12/09)

In this Guideline:

Symptoms
Comments on the disease
Management

Caneberry leaves infected with powdery mildew develop light green (chlorotic) spots on the upper surface, often with white mycelial growth on the lower leaf surface. Upper surfaces of leaves have a mottled appearance similar to that caused by mosaic virus infection. Infected shoot tips and fruit may also become covered with white, mycelial growth. Severely infected shoots become long and spindly with dwarf leaves that curl upward. Severely diseased plants may be stunted.

In California, the powdery mildew pathogen overwinters as mycelium in buds or on the surface of first-year canes (primocanes). Later, conidia are produced abundantly on the surface of infected tissue and serve as secondary inoculum for repeated cycles of infection throughout the growing season. The spores are airborne and the development of disease is favored by warm, dry weather.

Blackberries and varieties of red, black, and purple raspberries vary in their susceptibility to powdery mildew. Where powdery mildew is a serious problem, avoid planting highly susceptible cultivars. The blackberries from the Arkansas breeding program such as Navaho, Apache, and Arapaho tend to have very low susceptibility to powdery mildew as well as other diseases.

Practices that allow good air circulation have been reported helpful in limiting the spread of the disease. These include proper plant spacing, cane thinning, and maintaining narrow rows. Removing late‑forming suckers with powdery mildew symptoms and cutting back of floricanes (second-year canes) to a horticulturally desired height may reduce primary sources of inoculum.

Incidence and severity of powdery mildew tends to be higher in macrotunnels because the warm, dry conditions found inside the tunnels favor disease development. Free water is not necessary for the disease to develop, but higher humidity favors the disease.

Organically Acceptable Methods
The use of resistant varieties, maintaining good air circulation in the planting, and sprays of sulfur or potassium bicarbonate are acceptable for use in organically certified crops.

Treatment Decisions
Treat when disease is first evident.

Common name

Amount/Acre

R.E.I.+

P.H.I.+

(trade name)

(hours)

(days)

When choosing a pesticide, consider the general properties of the fungicide as well as information relating to environmental impact. Not all registered pesticides are listed. Always read label of product being used.

MICRONIZED SULFUR#

(Microthiol Disperss, Sulfur 90W)

Label rates

MODE OF ACTION GROUP NAME (NUMBER¹): Multi-site contact (M2)

COMMENTS: Sulfur is phytotoxic to some varieties, especially when temperatures exceed 90°F. Repeat treatment at 10-day intervals.

PYRACLOSTROBIN/BOSCALID

(Pristine)

18.5–23 oz

MODE OF ACTION GROUP NAME (NUMBER¹): Quinone outside inhibitor (11) and Carboxamide (7)

TRIADIMEFON

(Bayleton) 50DF

4 oz

MODE OF ACTION GROUP NAME (NUMBER¹): Demethylation inhibitor (3)

COMMENTS: For use on raspberries only. Apply in not less than 20 gal water/acre using ground equipment. Make additional applications at 4- to 6-week intervals as needed, not to exceed 7 applications in one year or 2 applications within the same 30-day period.

MYCLOBUTANIL

(Rally) 40WSP

1.25–1.5 oz

MODE OF ACTION GROUP NAME (NUMBER¹): Demethylation inhibitor (3)

COMMENTS: Initiate applications as early as budbreak and continue at 10- to 14-day intervals; shorter intervals may be used under heavy disease pressure. Do not apply more than 10 oz/acre/season.

POTASSIUM BICARBONATE

(Kaligreen)#

Label rates

MODE OF ACTION: An inorganic salt.

COMMENTS: Apply with sufficient water (25 gal/acre) to ensure complete and thorough coverage of the foliage and crop. Alternate application with other effective fungicides for resistance management on a 7- to 10-day interval. Can burn some varieties more easily than others; always test first when applying to a variety for the first time.

Acceptable for use on organically grown produce.

Restricted entry interval (R.E.I.) is the number of hours (unless otherwise noted) from treatment until the treated area can be safely entered without protective clothing. Preharvest interval (P.H.I.) is the number of days from treatment to harvest. In some cases the REI exceeds the PHI. The longer of two intervals is the minimum time that must elapse before harvest.

Group numbers are assigned by the Fungicide Resistance Action Committee (FRAC) according to different modes of actions (for more information, see http://www.frac.info/). Fungicides with a different group number are suitable to alternate in a resistance management program. In California, make no more than one application of fungicides with mode of action Group numbers 1, 4, 9, 11, or 17 before rotating to a fungicide with a different mode of action Group number; for fungicides with other Group numbers, make no more than two consecutive applications before rotating to a fungicide with a different mode of action Group number.

UC IPM Pest Management Guidelines: Caneberries
UC ANR Publication 3437
Diseases
S. T. Koike, UC Cooperative Extension, Monterey County
M. P. Bolda, UC Cooperative Extension, Santa Cruz County
E. J. Perry, UC Cooperative Extension, Stanislaus County
W. D. Gubler, Plant Pathology, UC Davis
L. J. Bettiga, UC Cooperative Extension, Monterey County

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How to Manage Pests

UC Pest Management Guidelines

Caneberries

Powdery Mildew

Pathogen: Sphaerotheca macularis

SYMPTOMS

COMMENTS ON THE DISEASE

MANAGEMENT

PUBLICATION