The infection can be traced to some sort of injury in the branch. The leaves do not drop but remain attached at the petiole. This is actually a later stage of infection, as most fungal bodies enter the stems. The first thing you might notice is browning or reddening of the leaves. Infected stems will rapidly wilt and then die. From the stems it travels into the foliage. Once stems receive injury from insects, mechanical means, or even freeze damage, it travels into the vascular tissue of the plant. Rain and wind carry the infectious spores from plant to plant. The disease will also infect host plants such as willow, blackberry, alder, wax myrtle, and holly. The disease enters through wounds in the plant and seems to be most prevalent in the early season, although infection can occur at any time. It occurs in both high bush and rabbit eye varieties of blueberry. Stem blight is the result of the fungus Botryosphaeria dothidea. It is a fungal disease that lives in soil and discarded plant debris as well as several wild hosts. The disease is most common in areas with poor soil or where excess growth has occurred. Over time it spreads and soon stems are exhibiting signs of the disease as well. Blueberry Stem Blight Infoīlueberry stem blight starts insidiously with just a few dead leaves in a single part of the plant. Knowing what to do when stem blight of blueberry occurs on your bushes can help you can save your crop. Failure to start blueberry stem blight treatment in a timely manner could mean more than the loss of the sweet berries the loss of the entire plant is possible too. The disease has very obvious symptoms for which to watch. Blueberries with stem blight experience cane death, which can result in the fatality of the plant if it is widespread. Stem blight of blueberry is especially dangerous on one to two year plants, but it affects mature bushes as well.
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