Phytopathogenic fungi associated with blueberry dieback (Vaccinium corymbosum L.) pruning and sealing management

Resumen

Objective: Identify the phytopathogenic fungi related to the downward death of blueberry, verify their pathogenicity, their incidence after pruning and the type of sealing.

Design/methodology/approach: For this, samples of symptomatic stems and branches were collected in eight commercial blueberry lots in the municipalities of Ahome, El Fuerte and Guasave in the state of Sinaloa, of which 196 fungal isolates were obtained, which were morphologically identified; to subsequently perform pathogenicity tests on detached leaf and bilox rods; Likewise, 2 pruning angles and three sealants were evaluated compared to an absolute control with a completely random arrangement.

Results: Based on morphological analysis, the genera were determined: Alternaria, Fusarium, Lasiodiplodia, Pestalotia and Curvularia, however, only the isolates of Lasiodiplodia were pathogenic in leaves and rods, while the best result is achieved with the angle of pruning 45º and sealing with vinyl paint type washable plastic plus copper oxychloride.

Limitations on study/implications: There were no limitations.

Findings/conclusions: The results achieved open new lines of research related to the molecular identification and impact of the disease on performance