pestmanagement
Cranberry dieback a puzzler
Finding the culprit has proven to be a complex task as a number of factors seemto be involved.
By Judie Steeves A
mysterious new ailment has made an appearance in cranberry bogs during the past few years. Often it’s not noticed at first, but then begins to spread, leaving the uprights dead and coppery brown, while the plants lose leaves and leave a thin patch in the field.
It can turn as much as 20 percent of the acreage dead and brown with vacant vines that are nothing but dry, brittle stems.
Termed cranberry dieback disorder, it’s believed it’s the result of a group of pathogens, says plant pathologist Siva Sabaratnam of the provincial agriculture ministry. He’s been working for three years with Sheila Fitzpatrick and Tom Forge of the Pacific Agri-food Research Centre in Abbotsford to investigate the cause. It was first brought to their attention in 2007 and they did a detailed survey of bogs in Delta, Richmond, Pitt Meadows and Surrey. It was differentiated from cranberry girdler and nematodes were ruled out too, although they could be a part of the problem. It’s believed to be a biological problem.
For the past two years, the B.C. Cranberry Marketing Commission and the B.C. Cranberry Research Council have funded a continuation
10 British Columbia Berry Grower • Spring 2011
of research to uncover the pathogen.
Sabaratnam
explained they are following what’s called Koch’s postulates in an attempt to identify the culprit.
First, they worked to identify the microorganisms specific to the ailing cranberry plants, then they grew them and tested them on cranberry plants in the greenhouse to see whether they can cause the disease. This year, they will inoculate a cranberry field plot at the PARC facility in Abbotsford, following up on the work done in the greenhouse, to see if the resulting organisms are identical to the problems being experienced in local cranberry bogs. Four fungi appear to be associated, said Sabaratnam, but a complex
Cranberry dieback has been found to destroy up to 20 percent of affected acreage.
combination of other stress factors also seem to be involved. Because cranberry production is unique, flooding at harvest may actually get rid of some of the pathogens, but others could be spread by the water; some that thrive in moist situations.
Growers have been advised to remove dead plants, put sand down, put new plants in and then apply a fungicide.
“We need solutions, but we’re not sure yet how it spreads,” commented Sabaratnam.
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