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Funded Project

Funding Program: Regional IPM Competitive Grants - Northeastern

Project Title: Improving the Control of Mummy Berry Disease While Decreasing the Use of Fungicides in Wild Blueberry Production of Northern New England

Project Directors (PDs): Seanna Annis [1] Francis Drummond [2] Rebecca Grube [3] Sonia G. Schloemann [4] John Smagula [5] David Yarborough [6]

Lead State: ME Lead Organization: University of Maine

Cooperating State(s): Massachusetts, New Hampshire

Extension Funding: $34,399

Research Funding: $71,234

Start Date: Sep-01-2009 End Date: Aug-31-2011

Pests Involved: mummy berry blight, mummy berry disease

Site/Commodity: lowbush blueberry, lowbush blueberries

Area of Emphasis: forecasting, modeling, honeybees, bumble bees, disease vectors

Summary: This is a Joint Research-Extension project focused on improving control of mummy berry disease in blueberries while decreasing fungicide use in northern New England (NNE). This project will benefit lowbush and highbush blueberry growers, the public, and the environment near blueberry fields by decreasing the environmental impact and increasing the economic benefits of blueberry production. Mummy berry disease affects all species of blueberry and can decrease yield up to 50% in highbush and 100% in lowbush blueberries Currently the majority of growers in Maine, New Hampshire and Massachusetts are applying up to three fungicide applications using a calendar schedule which often results in incomplete control and unnecessary fungicide applications. The adoption of a mummy berry disease forecasting model (MBFM) will produce science-based pest management that safeguards human health and the environment and promotes economic benefits for growers. Our extension goals are: to increase the adoption of the MBFM by blueberry growers in NNE, and compare the MBFM with applications based on the calendar. There are few studies on the interactive effects of management inputs on disease in lowbush blueberry. Growers and consumers are also interested in reduced-risk fungicides and cultural techniques for managing disease. Our research goals are: to determine the interactive effects of weed pressure, fertility, and fungicide treatment on disease in lowbush blueberries, test low-animal toxicity fungicides and cultural amendments for their disease control efficacy and compare pollinators for their efficiency in spreading secondary fungal inoculum to blueberry flowers. Objectives: We have designed our research so that each objective provides information on improving control of mummy berry disease, and can be accomplished independently of the other objectives. Extension E1. Increase the use of the MBFM for timing fungicide applications to control mummy berry blight in Maine, New Hampshire and Massachusetts, and validate the forecast model by comparing it to the application of fungicides via a calendar schedule. Research R1. Determine the interactive effects of weed pressure, fertility, and fungicide treatment on severity of mummy berry blight on lowbush blueberries. R2. Test low-risk fungicides and cultural amendments for their effectiveness in controlling mummy berry blight. R3. Compare pollinators, honey bees and bumble bees, for their efficiency in spreading inoculum of Monilinia vaccinii-corymbosi to flowers. Proposal USDA CRIS research data USDA CRIS extension data

Final Report:

Outcomes Using the MBFM, we applied two applications of fungicide in our field trials during the infection seasons in 2009 and 2010 and achieved the same level of control of mummy berry blight as with three applications of fungicide which would cover the same time period using the calendar method. Yields in fungicide-treated plot were significantly higher than in untreated controls and not significantly different between fungicides. Reporting on these experiments to growers has resulted in an improved opinion of the MBFM with many growers. In 2010, many growers relied on forecasting reports to determine when the fungal inoculum would be active in their area and when to consider applying fungicides. As a result, many growers believed they had improved control of mummy berry blight in 2010 compared to previous years. Surveys of growers during March 2011 informational meetings found 65% of 139 survey respondents had heard of the forecast method and 72% growers used fungicides to control mummy berry. Of the 73 growers who answered the question, 86 % follow the recommendations of the forecast method at least sometimes and 60% said it affected how they applied fungicide. Ninety five percent of the growers surveyed in March 2011 wanted the MBFM to continue. The long term goal is to get growers invested in the MBFM and establish and monitor mummy berry plots in their own fields. In the fall of 2011, four companies that manage large acreage of fields established mummy berry plots in representative fields and 6 small growers have indicated they have set up mummy berry plots in their fields. The support the mummy berry forecast methodology has received from growers led the Wild Blueberry Commission of Maine to apply for Block Grant funding through the State of Maine for funds to purchase, set up and monitor more reliable weather stations that can report weather conditions via cellular modems and funds for further studies on mummy berry control methods. This grant was funded at $79,354 in October, 2011. Analysis of the interaction of fertility and weed suppression on incidence and severity of mummy berry disease found fungicide treatment decreased incidence of mummy berry blight as predicted, but effects of herbicide and fertility were affected by field characteristics and interactive effects. Lack of weed control in one field did not affect mummy berry blight in the following year but did increase the number of mummified fruit produced. Increased weed density may be providing cover and food sources for insects vectoring conidia from blighted leaves and flowers to healthy flowers. Experiments examining the effect of honeybees and bumblebees on mummy berry blight incidence found similar proportions of mummy berries produced in cages with inoculum only as were found in cages with inoculum and honey bees or bumblebees. This experiment and other earlier experiments suggest honeybees and bumblebees may not be transmitting conidia to flowers to cause the second stage of disease. In 2009 and 2011, only propiconazole-containing fungicide treatments significantly decreased blight levels compared to untreated controls. The Procidic treatment appeared promising in 2009 and was retested in 2010 and 2011. In 2010, Procidic significantly controlled mummy berry disease compared to the untreated control in both fields and was not significantly different than the level of control due to propiconazole in one field. In 2011, Procidic did not control mummy berry disease as well as propiconazole treatments. Serenade Max and Regalia significantly decreased disease compared to the controls in 2010 but not in 2011. In 2011, one application of fungicide during the experiment was missed due to adverse weather conditions which likely had a greater effect on efficacy of protectants such as Procidic, Serenade Max and Regalia, than slightly systemic fungicides such as propiconazole. In 2011, Procidic, Serenade Max and Regalia were recommended as organically acceptable materials for the control of mummy berry disease and provided an alternative for organic growers to control this disease. Presentations to Growers Presentations to blueberry industry on mummy berry forecast methods at the Blueberry Field Day, Blueberry Hill Farm, July 2009, 2010 and 2011. Presentations on mummy berry forecast method in lowbush blueberries at Wild Blueberry Grower Extension meetings, Waldoboro, Ellsworth, and Machias, March 2009, 2010, and 2011. Presentations about mummy berry forecast method at blueberry growers twilight meetings in April 28, 29, 30 and May 26, 27, 28, 2009 in Warren, Jonesboro, and Orland ME, respectively. Presentations about mummy berry forecast method at blueberry growers twilight meetings in April 28, 29 and May 25, 26, 27, 2010 in Warren, Jonesboro, and Orland, respectively. Presentations about mummy berry forecast method at blueberry growers twilight meetings in April 26, 27, 28 and May 24, 25, 26, 2011 in Warren, Jonesboro, and Orland, respectively. Presentations to organic lowbush blueberry grower meetings in Maine on mummy berry control options in June 9 2009, July 7 2010 and July 18 2011. Best Practices for Disease Management in Wild Blueberry TAA program, April 2011. http://www.taaforfarmers.org/commodity/default.aspx?Id=21 Multiple blog posts (http://mainewildblueberries.blogspot.com/) on mummy berry forecast and other diseases from April through May in 2009, 2010 and 2011. K. McGovern, S.L. Annis and D.E. Yarborough. 2010. Efficacy of organically acceptable materials for control of mummy berry disease on lowbush blueberry in Maine. Wildbrew meeting, Quebec City, QC, Canada, Oct. 21, 2010. Thompson, A.A and S.L. Annis. 2011. Is Fungicide Resistance Occurring in Maine's Lowbush Blueberry Barrens? Abstract. WildBREW meeting. Bangor, ME, Oct. 27, 2011. Publications: McGovern, K., S. Annis and D. Yarborough, 2011. Efficacy of organically acceptable materials for control of mummy berry disease on wild blueberries in Maine. International Journal of Fruit Science, accepted. Drummond, F.A., J. Smagula, D. Yarborough, and S. Annis, 2011, Organic wild blueberry research and extension in Maine, International Journal of Fruit Science, accepted. Published Abstracts: McGovern, K., S. Annis and D. Yarborough, 2010. Efficacy of organically acceptable materials for control of mummy berry disease on wild blueberries in Maine, North American Blueberry Researchers and Extension Workshop, Kalamazoo, MI, July 25-28, 2010 Drummond, F.A., J. Smagula, D. Yarborough, and S. Annis, 2010, Organic wild blueberry research and extension in Maine, North American Blueberry Researchers and Extension Workshop, Kalamazoo, MI, July 25-28, 2010 Fact Sheets: Forecasting Mummyberry Fungus Infection 2009 http://wildblueberries.maine.edu/PDF/Disease/mummyberry-forecasting-handout.pdf Mummy berry disease forecasting method, presentation put up on the web,2009 http://wildblueberries.maine.edu/Mummyberry/mummyberryforecastingmethod.pdf How to put out Mummy berry plots, Summer 2011. This is not yet available on the web, but has been sent by email to 400 growers and handed out at the July field day. Grants obtained as a result of this grant: Matching funds from Wild Blueberry commission of $15,345 in 2010 Development and Implementation of a Disease Integrated Pest Management Program for Maines 575 Wild Blueberry Growers. 2011. Block Grant to USDA for $79,354.

Impacts Safeguarding human health and the environment Our field experiments in 2009 and 2010, validated the forecast method as a more efficient method to control mummy berry disease by decreasing the number of fungicide applications necessary compared to the calendar method. The validation of the mummy berry forecast system has increased the number of growers who are using the method. Of the 73 growers who answered in a survey in March 2011, 86 % follow the recommendations of the forecast method at least sometimes and 60% said it affected how they applied fungicide. There are approximately 24,000 acres of lowbush blueberries in Maine and the majority of those acres are treated with fungicides to control mummy berry disease. Using the mummy berry forecasting methods will decrease the number of fungicide applications and thereby reduce risk to the environment. Procidic, SerenadeMax and Regalia are all organically acceptable materials with no known risks. These materials were recommended in 2011 for the control of mummy berry disease and provided some options for organic growers to control this disease. Growers are also being exposed to the effects of interactions of management methods. Over-fertilization with N and inadequate weed control is not only detrimental to the plants due to weed competition but also increases mummy berry disease. Over-fertilization can also lead to excessive runoff impacting adjacent water sources. These findings will continue to be explained to growers as a further impact of improper fertility management. Economic benefits Growers who use the mummy berry forecast method would save at least $50/acre (estimated in 2008 costs) for each fungicide application avoided. This is a significant economic incentive both for growers with only a few acres and a low profit margin and large growers who manage thousands of acres.. Ninety five percent of the 139 growers surveyed in March, 2011 wanted the mummy berry forecast method to continue, suggesting that the MBFM is providing vital management information to growers. Implementation of IPMWe have validated the mummy berry forecast method in field trials in 2010 and 2011. The years, 2009 and 2010, had highly suitable weather conditions for development of mummy berry disease as seen by the 72% disease incidence in untreated control plots. We demonstrated the same level of control (12% disease in 2010 and 35% in 2011) using only two applications of fungicides with the MBFM compared to three applications of fungicides necessary to cover the same period of time using the calendar method. Some growers have been applying more fertilizer than recommended with the assumption that a large amount of N is taken out of the plants with harvesting of the berries , our studies provide further evidence that the current fertility recommendations of measuring leaf nutrients and adding only enough amendments to eradicate nutrient deficiencies is the best practice and will minimize effects of disease control from over fertilization. We also have demonstrated the effectiveness of the organically acceptable materials, Procidic, SerenadeMax and Regalia, when applications can be applied at suitable intervals. Presentations to blueberry industry (approximately 150 to 200 people attend each year) on mummy berry forecast methods at the Blueberry Field Day, Blueberry Hill Farm, July 2009, 2010 and 2011. Presentations on mummy berry forecast method in lowbush blueberries at Wild Blueberry Grower Extension meetings (approximately 30 to 60 people attend each session), Waldoboro, Ellsworth, and Machias, March 2009, 2010, and 2011. Presentations about mummy berry forecast method at blueberry growers twilight meetings (approximately 8 to 25 people attend each meeting) in April 28, 29, 30 and May 26, 27, 28, 2009 in Warren, Jonesboro, and Orland ME, respectively. Presentations about mummy berry forecast method at blueberry growers twilight meetings (approximately 8 to 25 people attend each meeting) in April 28, 29 and May 25, 26, 27, 2010 in Warren, Jonesboro, and Orland, respectively. Presentations about mummy berry forecast method at blueberry growers twilight meetings (approximately 8 to 25 people attend each meeting) in April 26, 27, 28 and May 24, 25, 26, 2011 in Warren, Jonesboro, and Orland, respectively. Presentations to organic lowbush blueberry grower meetings in Maine on mummy berry control options in June 9 2009, July 7 2010 and July 18 2011. Best Practices for Disease Management in Wild Blueberry presented at Trade Adjustment Act meetings in March 2011 to a total of 139 lowbush blueberry growers in Waldoboro, Ellsworth and Machias, ME. From our survey in 2011, we can estimate 63 growers of the 73 growers surveyed (86%) are following the recommendations of the MBFM at least some of the time. From informal conversations with growers, the 3 largest growers who manage 10,000 or more acres are following recommendations from the forecast, as well as, numerous growers who manage smaller acreages.

Report Appendices Final Report 2011 [PDF]

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