Integrated Management of Blueberry Diseases

Use of Disease Resistant Varieties

 

In an integrated organic disease management program, the use of varieties with disease resistance must be emphasized. Blueberry varieties with high levels of resistance to most of the major diseases are not currently available; however, several varieties are known to be resistant to some diseases. The following table provides information on disease resistance in several of the more common varieties grown in the Midwest.

Table 4.  Disease resistance in blueberry cultivars commonly grown in the Midwest.

 
 
Variety
 
Mummyberry
 
Phomopsis twig blight and canker
 
Fusicoccum canker
 
Powdery mildew
 
Anthracnose fruit rot
 
Red ringspot virus
 
Shoestring virus

 

Berkeley

 

S

 

VS

 

 

 

R

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bonus

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bluecrop

 

MR

 

 

 

MR

 

S

 

MR

 

VR

 

 

 

Bluegold

 

S

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bluehaven

 

S

 

S

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bluejay

 

R

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

R

 

Blueray

 

S

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

S

 

 

 

 

 

Bluetta

 

S

 

R

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Burlington

 

R

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

S

 

Chippewa

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Collins

 

S

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Coville

 

MR

 

 

 

MR

 

MR

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Darrow

 

R

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

R

 

Duke

 

R

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Earliblue

 

S

 

S

 

 

 

R

 

 

 

 

 

S

 

Elliott

 

R

 

R

 

 

 

 

 

R

 

 

 

S

 

Jersey

 

MR

 

VS

 

 

 

S

 

VS

 

MR

 

S

 

Lateblue

 

R

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Little Giant

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

R

 

 

 

 

 

Nelson

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Northblue

 

R

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Northcountry

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Northland

 

S

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

R

 

Northsky

 

R

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Patriot

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Polaris

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rancocas

 

MS

 

 

 

R

 

R

 

 

 

 

 

MS

 

Rubel

 

S

 

MR

 

MR

 

 

 

MS

 

 

 

S

 

Sierra

 

S

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

St. Cloud

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Spartan

 

MR

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

S

 

Sunrise

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Toro

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weymouth

 

S

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

S

VR = very resistant, R = resistant, MR = moderately resistant, MS = moderately susceptible, and S = susceptible and VS = very susceptible

Blank areas mean resistance is not known.

Table prepared by J. Hancock, E. Hanson, D. Trinka, and A.M.C. Schilder, Michigan State University.