← Diseases

Stem Canker

Botryosphaeria corticis

50 host plants

Last updated

Data Coverage 3 of 6 dimensions
Causal Agent
Host Plants
Symptoms
Management
GDD Threshold
Regional Notes

Stem canker on blueberry appears as reddish, conical swellings on current-year canes, particularly the principal canes, visible in summer and fall. The cankers develop small pimple-like swellings (pycnidia) on the surface, then enlarge and become fissured and rough in the second year, taking on a blistered appearance. If cankers girdle the cane or extend into the crown, the entire cane or whole plant may die back. The disease hasn't been common historically but has appeared in Oregon and should be monitored as a potential threat.

Botryosphaeria corticis enters during warm, wet growing conditions and becomes more severe under plant stress, drought, or poor cultural conditions. The best management is selecting disease-free nursery stock and inspecting any plants arriving from the eastern or southern United States where the disease is established. Prune out and destroy infected branches promptly to reduce spore sources. Maintain plant vigor through proper irrigation, fertilization, and general care; avoid planting in stress sites. Most blueberry cultivars are susceptible, though Northblue shows more resistance than Bluecrop or Duke under controlled conditions.

Quick Reference

Causal Agent
Botryosphaeria corticis
Host Plants
50

Management

Cultural Controls

  • Prune out and destroy infected branches.
  • Plant disease-free nursery stock.
  • Carefully inspect plants arriving from New Jersey or from the Southern States where this disease is a problem.

Host Plants (50)

Delphinium Larkspur Pseudotsuga macrocarpa Bigcone Douglas-fir Pseudotsuga menziesii Douglas-fir Pseudotsuga menziesii var. glauca Rocky Mountain Douglas-fir Blue Douglas-fir Inland Douglas-fir Colorado Douglas-fir Pseudotsuga wilsoniana Taiwan Douglas-fir Vaccinium angustifolium Lowbush Blueberry Vaccinium corymbosum Highbush Blueberry Vaccinium crassifolium Creeping Blueberry, Thick-leaved Whortlberry Vaccinium macrocarpon Cranberry American Cranberry Vaccinium membranaceum Big Huckleberry, Mountain Huckleberry Thinleaf Huckleberry Vaccinium moupinense Himalayan Blueberry Vaccinium ovalifolium Oval-leaf Blueberry Vaccinium ovatum Box Huckleberry, Evergreen Huckleberry Vaccinium parvifolium Red Huckleberry, Red Whortleberry Vaccinium sikkimense Sikkim Blueberry Vaccinium uliginosum Bog Blueberry, Bog Bilberry Vaccinium vitis Vaccinium vitis Viburnum awabuki Sweet Viburnum Viburnum bodnantense Viburnum, bodnantense Viburnum bracteatum Bracted Viburnum, Limerock Arrowwood Viburnum Viburnum burkwoodii Burkwood Viburnum Viburnum carlesii Koreanspice Viburnum Viburnum cassinoides Witherod Viburnum, Northern Wild Raisin Viburnum cinnamomifolium Cinnamon Viburnum Viburnum davidii David's Viburnum Viburnum dentatum Arrowwood Viburnum Viburnum dilatatum Linden, Viburnum, Linden, Arrowwood Viburnum edule Mooseberry Highbush Cranberry, Moosewood Viburnum, Squashberry Viburnum ellipticum Oregon Viburnum, Western Wayfaring Tree Viburnum farreri Fragrant Viburnum Viburnum juddii Judd Viburnum Viburnum lantana Wayfaringtree Viburnum Viburnum lantanoides Hobblebush Viburnum lentago Nannyberry Sheepberry Viburnum nudum Possumhaw Smooth Witherod Northern Wild Raisin Viburnum opulus var. americanum American Cranberrybush Viburnum Viburnum opulus var. opulus European Cranberrybush Viburnum, Guelder-rose Viburnum opulus var. sargentii Sargent Viburnum Viburnum plicatum var. plicatum Japanese Snowball Viburnum Viburnum plicatum var. tomentosum Doublefile Viburnum Viburnum pragense Prague Viburnum Viburnum prunifolium Blackhaw Viburnum Viburnum rafinesquianum Downy Arrowwood Viburnum, Rafinesque Viburnum Viburnum rhytidophyllum Leatherleaf Viburnum Viburnum rufidulum Rusty Blackhaw Viburnum, Southern Blackhaw Viburnum setigerum Tea Viburnum Viburnum suspensum Sandankwa Viburnum, Sandanqua Viburnum Viburnum tinus Laurustinus Viburnum trilobum American Cranberrybush Viburnum Zelkova serrata Japanese Zelkova Saw-leaf Zelkova