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Articles by Kari Peter
Southern Blight of Apple Could Infect This Year's Crop
Southern blight is a deadly soilborne disease that infects more than 500 plant species worldwide, including the southern United States. But despite the misleading name, Pennsylvania’s milder (and shorter) winters in addition to the hotter and, occasionally, wetter summers have allowed these pathogens, which are typically anchored in the South, to creep northward. Southern blight of apple was first observed in Pennsylvania in 2018 and, unfortunately, is here to stay.
Integration of Chitosan and Biopesticides to Suppress Pre-Harvest Diseases of Apple
Abstract : The natural product chitosan has been shown to reduce plant disease severity and enhance the efficacy of microbial biocontrol agents in several crops. However, little is known about the potential synergisms between chitosan and biopesticides and best use practices in apple production.
2023 Disease Update: Scout for Fire Blight and Apple Scab Infections
It is important that growers scout their orchards for potential infections. The earlier an infection is caught, the easier it will be to manage. During dry days, assess disease in your orchards and take remediation steps, if necessary. Fire Blight Management There were two significant fire blight infection events in Pennsylvania during the bloom period: April 14–16 and April 21–22. Many PA growers also had a protracted bloom due to the cool weather from late April through early May.
2023 Disease Update: Apple Scab Infection Predicted for April 6
News Despite cooler temperatures, apple scab spores continue to mature, and an apple scab infection event is forecasted from April 6, 2023, for those with green tissue present on their apple trees. Protection is necessary for this event. Growers will also want to apply fungicides to blooming stone fruit trees to prevent potential brown rot infection of blossoms. Scab spores have started to disperse from overwintering leaves, which is coinciding with green tissue present on the trees.
Leaf Litter May Contain Spores Leading to Orchard Pathogens
If you notice any scab or Marssonina blotch in your orchard this season, be proactive in mitigating problems for next year. Orchards are self-infecting when it comes to apple scab and Marssonina. Even if your fruits are clean of apple scab this season, there is still a possibility of leaves being infected. Reducing leaf litter and the spores they contain is a vital defense strategy for any excellent scab and Marssonina management program. Spores need the leaf tissue to survive the winter.
2022 Disease Update: Consider Fungicide Applications Ahead of Hurricane Ian Remnants
News Hurricane Ian has yet to make landfall in the United States; however, the trajectory suggests the Mid-Atlantic could receive rainfall from the remnants of Ian by the weekend. The forecast is still in flux, but it may be persistently wet from October 1–3. Growers are in harvest mode, and the last fungicide spray may have been several weeks ago or longer. Consequently, fruit may be going into this significant wetting period unprotected.
2022 Disease Update: Potential for Apple Scab and Brown Rot Blossom Blight Infection
By Kari A. Peter The forecast is about 50/50 for a rain event this week, depending on your location. It is important growers remain alert from April 12–16 since there may be conducive infection conditions for apple scab and rust on apple trees and brown rot blossom blight on any blooming stone fruit trees. Figure 1. Rust galls are active and protection will be needed on trees prior to rain events.
USDA to Survey Fruit Growers About Chemical Use
By Kari A Peter In the next few weeks, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) will survey fruit growers in 12 states, including Pennsylvania, New York, and New Jersey, for its biennial Fruit Chemical Use Survey. This survey will collect information on bearing acreage, pest management practices, fertilizer types, acres treated, application rates, pesticide application, acres treated, and rates applied to more than 21 fruit crops.
Preventing Apple Fruit Rots and Pruning Blossom-Blasted Stone Fruit Trees
As we near apple harvest, it is still important to be vigilant when managing for fruit rots, especially those fruit destined for long term storage. There is another benefit to the hot, dry weather we have been experiencing: management of the disease headaches caused by Pseudomonas syringae pv. syringae this spring.
Disease Update: First Apple Scab Spores of the 2020 Season Detected
By Kari A. Peter Growers throughout Pennsylvania are experiencing different stages of bud development. The southern half of the state is in some stage of green-tip, whereas the northern half is in silver-tip. Green-tip on Gala occurred on March 12, 2020, at the Penn State Fruit Research and Extension Center (FREC) in Biglerville, PA. Like clockwork, we detected the first mature apple scab spores shortly thereafter. The number of available scab spores is still very low; there is no need to panic.
Tree Fruit and Small Fruit Production
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Keep an Eye out for Peach Leaf Curl | Growing Produce
This year, peach leaf curl caught many Pennsylvania growers off guard. Once symptoms are seen, it’s too late to do anything. Peach leaf curl is caused by the fungus Taphrina deformans and occurs wherever peaches are grown. The fungus causes the growing cells at the leaf margins to multiply quickly and randomly, which results in the puckered, curled, distorted appearance. Often, the color of the leaves varies from shades of green and yellow to pink, orange, and purple.
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