Summer disease update

 Six extended wetting events since Jul 22 have dramatically increased summer disease pressures in the Winchester area: Jul 22: 6 hr wetting at 73° with 0.9 in. rain, Jul 23-24: 13 hr wetting at 73° with 0.51 in. rain, Jul 30-31: 21 hr wetting at 70° with 1.01 in. rain; Aug 1-2: 15 hr wetting at 72° with 0.45 in. rain, Aug 3-4: 19 hr wetting at 68° with 0.92 in. rain; and Aug 6: 6 hr wetting at 68° with 0.2 in. rain. Suffice it to say that Winchester's extended dry conditions of July have passed! Wetting events at these temperatures have favored development of sooty blotch and flyspeck and the rot fungi. Evidence of early season (scab), mid-season (Brooks spot), and late season diseases (sooty blotch and developing rots) is shown below:

Scab, sooty blotch and rot spots on unprotected Granny Smith fruit at Virginia Tech AREC, Winchester, VA, Aug 10, 2020.

Infection by Brooks spot (8 o'clock and 1 o'clock positions from the calyx), as well as sooty blotch and rot spots on unprotected Idared fruit, Aug 10, 2020. Infection by Brooks spot, one of the earliest "summer diseases", typically occurs about a month after petal fall.

Recent disease pressure has been somewhat heavier than Winchester in other areas of Virginia, especially east of the Blue Ridge. Amounts of rainfall from extended wetting events have varied, especially with the remnants of the recent hurricane. Most were not excessive in areas where rain was needed; some extended wetting occurred with only a few hundredths of an inch of rainfall. All of these have been favorable for rot development where protection was inadequate and volume of rainfall can impact fungicide residual. 

Fire blight-killed shoots harbor the rot fungi and are a common pre-harvest inoculum source. Due to cool temperatures throughout bloom, the Winchester area mostly escaped fire blight this year, but infection was more common east of the Blue Ridge and in the Roanoke area.

Accumulated wetting hours through the summer can be an indicator of summer disease pressure, particularly to predict the development of the sooty blotch and flyspeck (SBFS) fungal complex, but also can be a general indicator of rot pressure. To predict SBFS, we record accumulated wetting hours (ACW) from rainfall, fog, or dew, starting 10 days after petal fall. The action threshold of 250 ACW predicts that the SBFS fungi are present on unprotected fruit when the threshold is reached, and symptoms will soon appear with further incubation. Winchester passed the 250-hr threshold on July 21, and symptoms are now present on unprotected fruit, as shown above, with symptoms heavier at lower elevations, which have more wetting hours. Here is a listing of selected petal fall dates and current total wetting hour accumulation (ACW) for selected locations as of Aug 10: Winchester, May 5, 393 ACW; Staunton, May 5, 823 ACW; Roanoke, Apr 18, 447 ACW; Floyd, Apr 28, 470 ACW; Manassas, Apr 28, 694 ACW; Sperryville, Apr 28, 387 ACW; Crozet, Apr 18, 423 ACW; Carter Mountain, Apr 18, 558 ACW; Red Hill, Apr 18, 483 ACW; Lynchburg, Apr 13, 647 ACW; Rustburg, Apr 13, 573 ACW; Danville, Apr 13, 832 ACW. 

Unless unusual fruit disease-related events occur, this will be the final post for this year. With approaching harvest, carefully observe pre-harvest intervals and per acre per year restrictions for all fungicides and all crop protection products.

Continued heavy summer disease pressures

This past week marked a return to the heavy disease pressures noted from mid-May through early July. At our AREC in Winchester we recorded three extended wetting events: July 24, with 14 hr of wetting at 72° with 0.67 in. rain; July 24-25, with 12 hr of wetting at 70° with 0.44 in. rain and July 25-26, with 17 hr of wetting at 69° with 1.17 in. rain. Rainfall volumes varied considerably over the region, but with similar temperatures and length of wetting. These wetting events favored all summer diseases and rot activity on apples, and brown rot on ripening peaches and other stone fruits. 

For purposes of predicting the development of the sooty blotch and flyspeck (SBFS) fungal complex, we record accumulated wetting hours from rainfall or dew, starting 10 days after petal fall (from May 17 at Winchester). As of 8 AM July 27, AREC weather stations at three elevations had greatly exceeded the 250 wetting hour threshold for specific treatment against the SBFS fungal complex. These totals were: at 909 ft elevation, 678 hr; at 932 ft (the AREC NEWA station), 459 hr; and at the 983 ft elevation, 528 hr accumulated wetting hours (ACW). Sooty blotch and flyspeck are common on unprotected apple fruit in all areas of the AREC, including the higher elevations. Because early wetting hours this year were more a result of rainfall rather than wetting from dew, expect unusual SBFS pressures in higher elevation orchards, not typically threatened by these diseases. 

For central Virginia, we selected Apr 24 as the petal fall date for accumulation of wetting hours by weather stations at Tyro. As of July 5, a sensor placed at 1165 ft. has accumulated 322 wetting hours while one placed at 941 ft elevation has accumulated 733 hr. 

We see continued bitter rot activity at our AREC and there have been several reports of bitter rot and Glomerella leaf spot, as well as SBFS, from central Virginia orchards. 

Increasing summer disease pressures

At Winchester last week we had two significant extended wetting events favorable for SBFS and fruit rot development: June 15-16: 11 hr at 76-72°, with 0.46 in. rain, and June 16-17: 15 hr at 69-63° with 1.95 in. rain. Much of this rain came at the beginning of the event, and this volume of rainfall would have depleted much of the protective fungicide residue, leaving the fruit exposed to potential rot infection.

For purposes of predicting the development of the sooty blotch and flyspeck (SBFS) fungal complex, we record accumulated wetting hours from rainfall or dew, starting 10 days after petal fall. This year we began wetting hour accumulation at Winchester from May 14. As of Monday, June 20, accumulated wetting hours (ACW) toward the 250 wetting hour threshold for specific treatment against the SBFS fungal complex were: at 909 ft elevation, 257 hr (with the 250-hr threshold reached June 5); at 952 ft elevation, 248 hr (near the threshold); and at the 983 ft elevation, 218 hr ACW.

At Tyro, VA we started wetting hour accumulation May 4, and as of June 20, a sensor placed at the 941 ft elevation had accumulated 315 hr (with the 250-hr threshold reached June 6); the one at 1165 ft. elevation had accumulated 188 wetting hours, and the one 1465 ft. elevation had accumulated 213 wetting hours. 

At both Winchester and Tyro, most of the wetting hour accumulation at the higher elevations has been only with rain events, while accumulation at the lowest elevation has been with dew as well as rain events.

Summer disease management should be directed toward the array of potential problems in specific orchard blocks, utilizing protective fungicides for general purposes, but supplementing them with more specifically active fungicides directed at higher disease pressures and special control problems. Expect higher fruit rot pressures where fire blight killed shoots and fruit mummies are present in the trees. For more information on the effectiveness of apple fungicides for management of sooty blotch/flyspeck, Brooks fruit spot, black rot, white rot and bitter rot consult Table 6 (pp. 53-54) in the 2016 Spray Bulletin for Commercial Tree Fruit Growers.

Summer disease update

Summer disease pressure continued this past week with several extended wetting events at relatively warm temperatures and some locally heavy rainfall.

At our AREC we recorded three such extended wetting periods with rainfall: July 11, 9 hr wet at 71-66° with 0.28 in. of rain; July 13, 9 hr wet at 70° with 0.13 in. of rain (but as much as 4 inches with flooding locally in the Woodstock area of Shenandoah County); July 14, 11 hr wet at 70° with 0.34 in. of rain; . These frequent infection periods with rain deplete fungicide residue and continue to favor development of rots such bitter rot and white rot, as well as Alternaria and Glomerella leaf spots.

As of the Thursday morning, July 15, accumulated wetting hours (ACW) at the AREC are related to elevation: at 909 ft elevation, 588 hr; at 952 ft elevation, 467 hr; and at the 983 ft elevation 423 hr ACW. Since accumulation of wetting hours began May 14, this represents an increase of 2.2 wetting hours per foot of elevation drop from 983 to 909 ft!

At Tyro, in Nelson County, total ACW as of Thursday morning, July 15, were: at 941 ft elevation, 531 ACW; at 1165 ft, 299 ACW; and at 1465 ft, 345 (with the 250-hr threshold reached July 5). The 250-hr ACW threshold reached at all sensor elevations at Tyro early last week, and this probably true for all orchards in the central Virginia region.

The recent frequent wetting periods also favor development of brown rot on ripening peaches and other stone fruits.

Sooty blotch and flyspeck and other summer diseases

Early signs of sooty blotch and flyspeck were observed in lower elevation areas at our AREC Monday, June 29. At this elevation (909 ft) we had reached the 250-hour total accumulated wetting hour (ACW) action threshold June 10. At higher elevations, the dates that the 250-hr threshold was reached and ACW totals June 29 were: 952 ft elevation- June 13, 332 hr ACW; 983 ft elevation- June 21, 297 ACW. Note that the threshold had been reached by June 21 at all AREC locations ranging from 909 to 983 ft elevations.

At our AREC we had two more extended wetting periods that favored summer disease development: June 25-26, 14 hr wetting at 72-64° with 0.02 in. of rain; June 26-28, 32 hr wetting at 72-59° with 1.62 in. of rain. This latter volume of rainfall would have depleted most fungicide residue available for sooty blotch, flyspeck and rot control.

At Tyro in Nelson County, a sensor placed at at 941 ft elevation had already recorded the 250-hr ACW threshold by June 3 for a total of 384 hr by June 29. By June 29, the ones at higher elevations, 1465 ft and 1165 ft, had not yet reached the 250-hr threshold with only 216 and 212 wetting hours, respectively.

Summer disease update

Several extended wetting periods at warm temperatures in the past 10 days strongly favored summer disease development: June 14-15, 22 hr wetting at 80-70° with 0.50 in. of rain; June 17-18, 19 hr wetting at 71° with 0.32 in. of rain; June 19-20, 15 hr wetting at 72°with 0.06 in. of rain; June 20-21, 12 hr wetting at 75° with 0.73 in. of rain. Note that all of these were above 70°, indicative of bitter rot and Glomerella leaf spot activity.

For the purpose of predicting the development of the sooty blotch and flyspeck (SBFS) fungal complex, we record accumulated wetting hours from rainfall or dew, starting 10 days after petal fall. We are tracking this as we have for the past 21 years using a hygrothermograph located at 952 ft. elevation. The start of wetting hour accumulation was from May 14. At this elevation we reached the 250 total accumulated wetting hour (ACW) action threshold June 13. As of the morning of June 24, ACW at the 952 elevation was 288. We also have electronic recorders at 909 ft and 983 ft elevations. At 909 ft ACW was more rapid with the 250-hr threshold reached June 10 and total ACW at 368 hr.  At 983 ft ACW was slower with the 250-hr threshold not reached until June 21; total ACW at 983 ft was 256 as of June 24 hr. 

For the central Virginia areas, represented by three weather stations at different elevations at Tyro in Nelson County, we started accumulation May 13.  A sensor placed at at 941 ft elevation had already greatly passed the 250-hr ACW threshold June 3 for a total of 335 hr by June 24. By June 24, the ones at higher elevations, 1465 ft and 1165 ft, had not yet reached the 250-hr threshold with only 175 and 183 wetting hours, respectively.

Extended wetting events, mildew still active; wetting hour accumulation related to elevation

We had two more extended wetting events at our AREC this past week: June 16-17 (12 hr, mean 71° with 0.6 in. rain) and June 19-20 (14 hr, mean 71°, with 0.4 in. rain).

The temperatures and length of wetting during these events favored secondary apple scab and early summer disease development. Secondary spread of fire blight was possible where growing shoot tips are still susceptible. Cedar rust galls are mostly depleted now. 

Powdery mildew remains active with continued shoot growth. Since mildew spores were first observed Apr 9, we have had 42 dry weather “mildew infection days”: 15 in April, 20 in May and 7 in June. So it is not hard to find secondary infection in susceptible unprotected orchards.

For purposes of predicting development of the sooty blotch and flyspeck (SBFS) fungal complex, we record accumulated wetting hours (CWH) from rainfall or dew, starting May 18, ten days after petal fall. This week there was about twice as much wetting hour accumulation at Winchester than at the central Virginia location. 

By Friday morning, June 20, at our usual AREC monitoring site at elevation 950 ft, we had accumulated 176 wetting hours toward the 250-hour threshold for specific treatment against the SBFS fungal complex. But at a lower AREC elevation (910 ft) we have already surpassed this threshold with 289 CWH.  At Tyro, VA as of June 20, the sensor at 1165 ft. elevation had accumulated 99 wetting hours from May 11, while one placed at 941 ft had accumulated 193 hr. Both of these locations illustrate the importance of elevation for wetting hour accumulation. Scout your lower orchard areas for early onset of SBFS appearance and adjust you fungicide program accordingly.

Recent extended wetting periods resulting in potential rot activity

Significant summer disease pressure continues with extended wetting periods occurring Aug 17-18 (16 hr with 0.16 in. of rain at 61°), Aug 21-22 (14 hr with 0.05 in. of rain at 66°) and a serious one for rot activity this week, Aug 28-29 (30 hr with 0.42 in. of rain at 71°).

As of Aug 26 accumulated wetting hours totaled 655, approximately equal to or more than that for seven of the past ten years.

Disease management and pre-harvest sprays in the orchard directly affect postharvest quality and storage rot problems. Maintain intervals of pre-harvest fungicides appropriate to disease pressures and the prevailing weather conditions, but allow flexibility in pre-harvest intervals for your intended fruit market.

Summer disease update

Yesterday we received several rains totaling 3.6 inches at a mean temperature of 70°. This volume of rain would remove most of any protective fungicide residue applied before the rains, indicating need for tightening spray intervals for summer disease control on apples and for reliable control of brown rot on peaches and other stone fruits. Scab symptoms are very evident on non-protected peaches.

Wetting hours accumulated last week (38) brought our total to 383 hours. This is less than for this time last year, but ahead of 2010 and 2011.

Sooty blotch and flyspeck on non-protected fruit; rot weather

As of yesterday morning, July 8, we had accumulated 293 wetting hours and sooty blotch/flyspeck symptoms were readily apparent on non-protected trees in our fungicide test blocks.

Extended wetting periods last week occurred July 1-2 (8 hr with 0.03 in. of rain at 71°) and July 7-8 (18 hr with 0.97 in. of rain at 70°). These wetting periods were favorable for rots.

Extended wetting June 10-11

Extended wetting from early yesterday morning through this morning (June 10-11) occurred as two separate periods of 12 and 16 hours, each at 65°; but with just four hours of drying between them, they might as well be added together, with total rainfall of 1 inch for both events. 

Extended wetting at mild temperatures- a preview of summer diseases?

We had an extended wetting period at our AREC June 6-8: 40 hours wetting with 1.1 inches of rain at 63°. Today's rain has added another 0.4 in. of rain and it may not be finished yet. Those rains combined to remove much of any fungicide residue applied earlier last week, leaving the trees possibly vulnerable to secondary apple scab and Brooks spot infection; also think of these wetting events as initiating early activity by the Alternaria and Glomerella leaf spot fungi. The rains may cause cracking of ripening sweet cherries and will increase the potential for fruit rots:  http://treefruitdisease.blogspot.com/2010/06/cherry-rots.html

For purposes of predicting development of the sooty blotch and flyspeck (SBFS) fungal complex, we record accumulated wetting hours, starting 10 days after petal fall. As of this morning, June 10, we had accumulated 145 wetting hours toward the 250 wetting hour threshold for specific treatment against the SBFS fungal complex. Because of an earlier petal fall date and more wetting, some areas east of the Blue Ridge may now be approaching the 250-hr threshold for inclusion of a specific SBFS fungicide in the mix.
 
As of today, June 10, we have had 40 dry weather apple powdery mildew days since spores were first released Apr 11, ranking this year among the higher mildew pressure years. The recent rains will promote continued tree growth and susceptibility to mildew infection. Maintain mildew suppression on susceptible cultivars until shoot growth ceases to prevent the bud infection which leads to overwintering and a recurrent problem next year.

I have received several reports of fire blight showing up, likely from infection that occurred at late bloom: 
http://treefruitdisease.blogspot.com/2013/05/fire-blight-threat-to-late-bloom.html

Extended wetting and summer disease pressure

Nine hours of extended wetting occurred with an 0.06 inch of rain at 69° Aug 14. We also had several nights of heavy dews last week, bringing the accumulated wetting hour total from rainfall or dew since Apr 18 to 835 hours. This total, generally indicative of sooty blotch and flyspeck pressure, is the highest for this time last year since 2003.

Bitter rot and some other rots have appeared on poorly protected apple fruit that were damaged by hail on July 31.

More summer disease weather

Summer disease pressure remained high this week with several nights of heavy dews and with 14 hours of extended wetting with an inch of rain at 69° Aug 9-10.

I was away for a week, and on my return some changes were obvious- lots of apple trees with light green, new growth, and nice red color on ripening (and tasty!) Gala apples.

Where powdery mildew is a problem, the new growth will be susceptible to mildew infection, leading to more overwintering. In such situations, the fungicides Indar and Inspire Super offer some suppression of mildew and other summer diseases such as sooty blotch and flyspeck. Both Indar and Inspire Super have restrictions preventing their application closer than 14 days to harvest. We suggest including a general protectant fungicide such as captan or ziram with the above fungicides to broaden the spectrum and residual activity.

Yesterday I saw striking examples of the effects of fire blight strikes on the prevalence of bitter rot in Nittany apples (shown below). The bitter rot fungus can colonize the dead twigs within six weeks of the initial fire blight blossom infection and become a bitter rot inoculum source for the rest of the year. Any fire blight strikes in a tree should be taken as a warning of a potential rot problem. Notice that the fruit immediately below also has sooty blotch, and that indicates that protective fungicide is lacking which would also permit more rot problems.

Recent extended wetting periods

This past week we had three extended wetting periods and more than 2.5 in. of rain (as of 4 PM today, but we are really not complaining about the rainfall): Jul 15-16, 10 hr wet at 70°; Jul 18-19, 8 hr wet at 71°; Jul 19-20, 17 hr wet at 72°. In the past two weeks we have gotten more than 4 inches of rain, which would have eroded most protective fungicide residues, adding considerable rot pressure on apples and other fruits. Cumulative wetting hours now stand at 572, the highest total for this time of the year since 2003, and the fourth highest total since 1994.


There have been several reports of rots appearing where was earlier fire blight infection. This should be expected because any dead twigs can be quickly colonized by several rot fungi, leading to a build-up of inoculum and subsequent infection under the warm and wet conditions such as have occurred recently.


Scout for sooty blotch and flyspeck in lower elevation areas where you typically see these problems first, and make appropriate management adjustments as needed.

Extended wetting periods and summer disease development

Three extended wetting periods have added to summer disease pressure locally in the past week. At our AREC we recorded: 29-30 June, 10 hr wet at 66° with 0.44 in. rain; 2 July, 8 hr wet at 70° with 0.2 in. rain; 4-5 July, 8 hr wet at 72° with 0.11 in. rain. Some areas to the north in Frederick County probably received more rain than we did. All of these storms had strong winds that could have resulted in some fruit injury, increasing the potential for fruit rots. the accumulated wetting hour total from rainfall or dew since Apr 18 now stands at 470 hours, more than 120 ahead of this date last year.


These warm wetting periods will also increase the threat of brown rot on ripening stone fruits.

Extended wetting periods May 27-30 and accumulated wetting hours

We had extended wetting May 27-28: 11 hours with 65° and 0.33 in. rain. Last night's extended wetting, May 29-30, was 10 hours at 71° and 0.12 in. rain. These wetting periods favored secondary scab and all summer diseases on apples and brown rot on ripening cherries and other stone fruits.


On May 25 we passed the 250-wetting hour threshold for specific treatment against the sooty blotch/flyspeck fungal complex. Accumulated wetting hour total from rainfall or dew since Apr 18 is now at 285 hours. This is four weeks ahead of last year and the second earliest week for reaching this predictive threshold since we began recording this in 1994. In seven of these 19 years we reached this threshold one week later.

Extended wetting May 24-25

Last night's extended wetting came to 15 hours with 60-70° temperatures and 0.06 in. rain. This wetting favored scab and all summer diseases on apples and brown rot on ripening cherries and other stone fruits.

Infection periods May 21-23

Scab infection periods occurred May 21-22 (22 hr at 67°) and May 22-23  (12 hr at 64°). Total rainfall for these two events was 0.26 in. at our AREC but some other areas of Frederick County received considerably more rain volume, especially on the evening of May 22. 

These wetting periods at relatively warm temperatures could signal early summer disease pressure. Through this morning we had accumulated 222 wetting hours since Apr 18, rapidly advancing toward the 250 wetting hour threshold for specific treatment against the sooty blotch/flyspeck fungal complex.

Cherry leaf spot symptoms were observed today.

Effects of Hurricane Irene

Considering the lack of rainfall the past three months, Irene's effects in the vicinity of our AREC were mostly beneficial; we received 1.2 inches of rain. The longest continuous wetting period during the weekend was 12 hr, but there were numerous showers earlier, all with temperatures in the 70s, and favorable for rot development. In spite of earlier drought, we have been seeing a lot of bitter rot in our fungicide test plots, a caution to commercial processing orchards with light fungicide programs.

Last week's total for wetting hours was 34, giving us 542 accumulated wetting hours for the season.

Strong winds resulted in some fruit drop of cultivars that won't be ripe for a month, but it was interesting to note that ripening Gala apples, treated with Fruitone (NAA "stop-drop") on Aug 15, held on nicely.