The Pacific Northwest (PNW) is an important production region for blueberry with 158 million lbs harvested in Oregon and 180 million lbs harvested in Washington in 2022, valued at $187 million (USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service, 2023)
Gray mold, caused by Botrytis spp., is a major issue for blueberry crops in the Pacific Northwest (PNW), leading to losses in yield and quality. This study examined the pathogen's in vitro resistance to various fungicides, collecting samples from 35 fields in 2022 and 2023, resulting in 376 and 339 Botrytis isolates, respectively.
The main objective of this research were to generate information on small fruit and grape virus diversity in the Pacific Northwest focusing on viruses transmitted by nematodes. The $840 million small fruit industry in the PNW faces several phytosanitary risk scenarios, one of these is the emergent or re-emergent viruses transmitted by nematodes.
The Blueberry scorch virus (BlScV) was first identified in Oregon and Washington in 1987, and later in British Columbia in 2000. It has been found in over 140 blueberry fields in British Columbia. BlScV isolates exhibit a wide range of sequence diversity, with the 'Northwest' strains showing similar diversity to all blueberry scorch virus isolates. Cranberries have been identified as a host of BlScV, with infected bogs found in British Columbia, Washington, and Oregon. In British Columbia, the close proximity of cranberry and blueberry crops allows for efficient transmission of the virus. However, in Oregon and Washington, where cranberries are grown far from major blueberry production areas, transmission by aphids from cranberry to blueberry is limited. Efforts are being made to identify and remove infected bushes and implement control measures to eliminate the virus from affected fields in Oregon and Washington. The diverse strains of blueberry scorch virus make tracking and eradicating the virus challenging. Research efforts are underway to establish a reliable detection method and compare the 'Northwest' strain of the virus with more severe strains found in the northeastern U.S. and British Columbia. This research aimed to investigate the potential for eradicating BlScV from infected fields in Oregon and Washington.
A 3-year study was conducted to investigate the effects of adding humic acids to an organic blueberry fertigation program. The objective is to see if adding organic-approved humic acids to a standard fertilization program in a mature organic blueberry production system will increase yield and affect soil quality and plant nutrients. The study compared the yield, fruit, and leaf nutrient concentration, and soil nutrients of 'Duke' and 'Liberty' blueberry cultivars with and without humic acid application. Over the three years, adding humic acids did not significantly improve yield or alter soil characteristics and plant nutrient levels. The study found no substantial evidence to support the additional cost of adding humic acids to an already healthy and productive organic blueberry system.
