College of Agriculture & Natural Resources Department of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences

Special PLP Seminar Series Speaker

Biology, Detection and Management of Cranberry Fruit Rot Fungi in Wisconsin

Dr. Leslie Holland (Univ. of Wisconsin) Monday Nov 18 @ 1:30PM PSSB 271

Wisconsin is the leading producer of cranberries in the world, contributing over 60% of the global supply. Fruit rot and the associated fruit quality issues are identified as the most important research need of the cranberry growers. Cranberry fruit rot has been a major factor reducing yields since the first commercial beds were planted in the late 1800’s. Fungicide applications are central to fruit rot management. Despite appropriate implementation of a fruit management program yield losses up to 30% or more are not uncommon in regions with high disease pressure. Furthermore, in historically lower disease prone regions such as Wisconsin fruit rot tends to be sporadic due to climatic effects. Growers routinely apply 2-3 fungicide applications during bloom to ensure marketability at harvest. Current studies in the fruit crop pathology lab at UW-Madison are evaluating the detection, succession and introduction of fruit rot fungi into cranberry beds, and the efficacy of heat treatments on vine viability and pathogen survival.

There will be a graduate student lunch at noon, look for emails from Lauren Andring