Small Fruit Getting Help

On-going work at WSU's Mount Vernon Research Center may just help west side small fruit producers ward off a couple of growing threats. The Ag Networks, Lacy Gray has more on the story.

GRAY: Associate Plant Pathology Professor Tobin Peever, Post-doctoral Research Associate Dalphy Harteveld, and Ph.D student Olga Kozhar are studying the biology, ecology and epidemiology of a couple of fungal diseases that are infecting and posing a significant risk of loss to the Pacific Northwest's blueberry, raspberry and strawberry crops, valued at $136 million. The two diseases, botrytis gray mold and mummyberry of raspberry and blueberry are being studied with the idea that they might be able to disrupt the disease cycle. The researchers are working closely with local growers to determine how their research can address the needs of the community and the Washington state berry industry. Peever said, quote, "Reducing the use of fungicides will have the added benefit of reducing pesticide inputs to the environment, lowering selection pressure for resistance to these fungicides and preserving their use for disease control in berries and other crops."

Thanks Lacy. The team's research is currently funded by the Washington Red Raspberry Commission, the Washington Blueberry Commission, the Washington State Commission on Pesticide Registration, and the Northwest Center for Small Fruits Research.

That's today's Fruit Grower Report. I'm Greg Martin on the Ag Information Network.