First Report of Twig Dieback Caused by on Highbush Blueberry in the Continental United States.

Highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum) is an important fruit crop for pick-your-own agritourism farms in the Midwest. Declining or diseased plants are a major concern for pick-your-own farms, as consumers prioritize healthy plants and organic practices (Norby and Retallick 2012). In August 2023, leaf spot and dieback symptoms were observed sporadically on the current year's growth throughout an organic berry agritourism farm in Eastern Iowa.

Identification of a reduced rate combination of a plant growth inhibitor with a plant defense inducer for the management of the shoot blight phase of fire blight.

The secondary shoot blight phase of fire blight is a critical component of disease epidemics in apples, pears, and other Rosaceae family plants with infection occurring at the tips of vigorously growing branches. Shoot blight infections are exacerbated in modern high-density apple plantings, where growers emphasize maximizing tree growth to recapture planting costs and increase yields of high-quality fruit. The overarching goal of this study was to develop new strategies for shoot blight management that do not impact the growth and yield of young apple trees.

Identification of streptomycin-resistant in Iowa.

Erwinia amylovora is a bacterial pathogen that causes fire blight, an important disease in apples and pears. Applying the antibiotic streptomycin during the phenological bloom stage is considered the most effective management tactic for fire blight. Though streptomycin-resistant (SmR) E.