MUMMY BERRY INFECTION PERIODS IN SOUTH

WALDO, KNOX, LINCOLN, Southern HANCOCK
Mummy berry infection periods have likely occurred in warmer, early fields in Waldo and Lincoln and possibly Knox and Hancock counties. Cups have been found in the Union area and in Dedham. Cups are not present in Belfast yet.
Southern areas near Camden are likely to have had an infection period from Wed. April 20th around 3 to 4pm through to Thurs. April 21st 8 to 9am. Our location near Union was a bit cooler and it was not wet long enough for an infection period, but warmer fields in the area may have had an infection period.

If you have a warmer, early field, I strongly suggest checking your plants to see if you have greater than 40% of the stems with opening flower buds (stage F2). This has been variable and many fields may not have enough susceptible stems yet. If your plants are at this stage and you have a warmer field, your field is likely to have had an infection period.

If you decide to apply fungicides, with either propiconazole or fenbuconazole you have until Saturday, April 23rd to apply the fungicide and kill off the infections that occurred from Wed. April 20th.

Please follow all recommendations in the Disease Control Guide for 2011, Bulletin 219.

DOWNEAST
Mummy berries are still only at the pin head stage and are not producing spores yet. Plants do not yet have enough open flower and leaf buds to have susceptible tissue to be infected.

HOW TO CHECK PLANT STAGE IN YOUR FIELD
Please check your fields to see if 40% of the stems (8 out of 20 stems) have flower buds at the F2 stage (seen to your right). Walk across your field and randomly collect 20 stems. If 8 out of 20 stems have flower buds at F2 stage than your plants are far enough along to become infected. Flower and leaf bud development follow each other closely and flower buds are much easier to determine when they are susceptible.