I have 2 kinds of thornless blackberries, Chesters and Navajos. The
Chesters started something last year and it has gotten worse this year.
Quite a few places on the cane have multiple sprouts of flowers, that
are sterile. It is sort of like a "witches broom" on a tree. Just
dozens of these sprouts of flowers that don't make fruit. I still have
lots of fruit, but what could be causing this?
susan
Hello Susan,
Check out the following paragraph on the UGA web site:
Joel
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Rosette or double blossom (Cercosporella rubi) occurs on both blackberries
and raspberries but is most damaging to blackberries. Symptoms are unusual
and markedly change the appearance of the plant. In the spring, infected
buds from the previous year produce numerous leafy sprouts. This
proliferation of shoots is referred to as a "witches broom." Several of
these witches brooms may occur on one cane. Infected flower buds often have
a pointed "onion" shape just before the blossoms open. As flower buds open,
petals are pinkish in color, wrinkled and twisted. Berries do not develop
from infected blossoms and uninfected parts of the same plant produce
smaller, poorer quality fruit. Remove wild brambles from the immediate area
because they serve as potential sources of inoculum for cultivated plants.
The primary control is removing infected blossom clusters before they open.
Remove and destroy old fruited canes after harvest. Where this disease is
especially severe on thorny blackberries, the plants are cut off at 12
inches after fruiting. This practice only works well where the growing
season is long and the plants are given excellent care after harvest. Even
then, yields are reduced the following year.
Joel Gruver
Dept of Soil Science
NC State University
jgruv@hotmail.com
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You found it exactly. I thought it looked like witches broom. I hoped =20=
it was environmental. I can never cut down the wild ones. I guess I'm =20=
in trouble!
susan
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of
> these witches brooms may occur on one cane. Infected flower buds often =
have
