First Report of Bacterial Wilt on Southern Highbush Blueberries (), Caused by , in North Carolina.

North Carolina is the seventh-largest producer of blueberries in the United States, with an estimated value of $104.6 million (USDA-NASS). In the Spring of 2024, a patch of approximately 50 contiguous southern highbush blueberries (SHB) (Vaccinium corymbosum cv.

An emerging fungal disease is spreading across the globe and affecting the blueberry industry.

Powdery mildew is an economically important disease caused by c. 1000 different fungal species. Erysiphe vaccinii is an emerging powdery mildew species that is impacting the blueberry industry.

Fine-Scale Genetic Structure and Reproductive Biology of the Blueberry Pathogen Monilinia vaccinii-corymbosi.

The fungus Monilinia vaccinii-corymbosi, a pathogen of Vaccinium spp., requires asexual and sexual spore production to complete its life cycle. A recent study found population structuring of M.

Elevated Genetic Diversity in the Emerging Blueberry Pathogen Exobasidium maculosum.

Emerging diseases caused by fungi are increasing at an alarming rate. Exobasidium leaf and fruit spot of blueberry, caused by the fungus Exobasidium maculosum, is an emerging disease that has rapidly increased in prevalence throughout the southeastern USA, severely reducing fruit quality in some plantings. The objectives of this study were to determine the genetic diversity of E.

Exobasidium maculosum, a new species causing leaf and fruit spots on blueberry in the southeastern USA and its relationship with other Exobasidium spp. parasitic to blueberry and cranberry.

Exobasidium leaf and fruit spot of blueberry (Vaccinium section Cyanococcus) is an emerging disease that has rapidly increased in prevalence throughout the southeastern USA. To determine whether this disease is caused by a new species of Exobasidium, we studied the morphology and phylogenetic relationship of the causal fungus compared with other members of the genus, including the type species E. vaccinii and other species that parasitize blueberry and cranberry (V.

Genetic characterization of Blueberry necrotic ring blotch virus, a novel RNA virus with unique genetic features.

A new disorder was observed on southern highbush blueberries in several south-eastern states in the USA. Symptoms included irregularly shaped circular spots or blotches with green centres on the upper and lower surfaces of leaves. Double-stranded RNA was extracted from symptomatic leaves suggesting the presence of virus(es) possibly involved in the disease.