Fungicide for Blueberry Plants

• Blueberries are a popular fruit with diverse uses. The fruit is good for eating fresh or for making jelly, jam, pies and juice. Blueberries are low in calories and are a good source of fiber. Like all plants, blueberries are susceptible to a number of diseases and insect infestations. Diseases are most common in plants that are growing poorly with inadequate care. Blueberry diseases are easily controlled with a number of recommended fungicides.

Mancozeb

• The Michigan State University Extension site recommends the use of mancozeb for control of phytophthora root rot in blueberry plants. Phytophthora root rot is a serious fungal disease that can be hard to control and commonly occurs in plants growing in excessively moist and warm soil. Though the use of fungicides like mancozeb is effective at control, long term prevention is best obtained by improving growth conditions of plants. Mancozeb is sold under a variety of different trade names and controls a number of fungal diseases in fruits, vegetable and nut trees. The chemical is also used as seed treatment.

Iprodione

• Iprodione, sold under a variety of different trade names, is cited by the Michigan State University Extension site as a highly effective control fungicide for botrytis in blueberry plants. Botrytis is among the serious fungal diseases of blueberries and is most prevalent during wet spring weather. The disease causes symptoms similar to frost damage. Botrytis fungus can enter blueberry plants through wounded plant areas. Infected green stems are likely to girdle and start dying. Botrytis is easily controlled with iprodione that retards the germination of fungal spores. Iprodione is also recommended as a post harvest fungicidal control strategy and as seed treatment.

Mummy Berry

• The systemic fungicide triforine is cited by the Michigan State University Extension site as a very good control for mummy berry disease in blueberry. Mummy berry is a common fungal disease of blueberries all across the United States and Canada. Early symptoms include browning of major leaf veins followed by wilting. Infected fruit has white fungal growth inside and appears pink on the outside. Triforine is effective for the control of mummy berry and a wide number of other fungal diseases in a variety of fruit crops. Triforine also controls disease in stored fruit.