Vegetable and Fruit Crops Pathology

I. Fire Blight of Apple

Fire blight is a serious threat to apple production in Illinois. It occurs every year, causing blossom blight, shoot blight canker blight, and rootstock blight on apples and pears. To control fire blight of apple, dormant copper spray and application of antibiotic during bloom is essential. Copper must be sprayed prior to or at silver tip growth state. Copper should be applied to the entire orchard block, including non-susceptible cultivars. Fire blight is most active during warm weather. Blossom infection is aggravated by showers which splash the blight bacteria. Apply streptomycin at 0.5 lb (or 0.25 lb plus 1 pt adjuvant Regulaid) or per 100 gal dilute. The effectiveness of streptomycin can be increased by including the adjuvant Regulaid at the rate of 1 pint per 100 gal tank mix. Streptomycin remains effective for 3 to 5 days.

For more information on fire blight of apple, reffer to the following websites: http://www.aces.uiuc.edu/vista/abstracts/a801.html
http://www.caf.wvu.edu/kearneysville/disease_descriptions/omblight.html
Biology and Epidemiology of Fire Blight

For more information on management of fire blight, consult the "Illinois Commercial Tree Fruit Spray Guide 2004" (http://www.extension.iastate.edu/Publications/PM1282.pdf) and reffer to the following website: http://veg-fruit.cropsci.uiuc.edu/Diseases/Fire%20Blight.htm

II. Illinois Summer Horticulture Day

Illinois Summer Horticulture Day will be held in Edwards Apple Orchard near Poplar Grove, Illinois, on June 16, 2005.Edwards Apple Orchard is located near Poplar Grove, Illinois, approximately fifteen miles northeast of Rockford and 80 miles northwest of Chicago. Robert (Sr.) and Audrey Edwards raised corn, soybeans and livestock on the farm through the early 1960's. In 1963, Robert (Jr.) and Betty Edwards purchased the property and began the transition from dairy and row crop production to apple orchard and farm market. Ken and Barb (Edwards) Hall joined the family business in 1984, and purchased the business from Bob and Betty (Barb's parents) in 1990. Today, their focus continues to be on apples. They currently grow eleven varieties of apples (including Honey Crisp) forty-five acres. The trees are of dwarf and semi-dwarf types. Pumpkins and raspberries are also important crops and they grow small amounts of gourds, squash, ornamental corn and chrysanthemums. Pick-your-own apples has been a popular activity there for more than thirty years. they also offer pumpkins and raspberries as pick-your-own crops. For more information on Edwrds Apple Orchard, celick here.

April 22, 2005
	I. Fire Blight of Apple Fire blight is a serious threat to apple production in Illinois. It occurs every year, causing blossom blight, shoot blight canker blight, and rootstock blight on apples and pears. To control fire blight of apple, dormant copper spray and application of antibiotic during bloom is essential. Copper must be sprayed prior to or at silver tip growth state. Copper should be applied to the entire orchard block, including non-susceptible cultivars. Fire blight is most active during warm weather. Blossom infection is aggravated by showers which splash the blight bacteria. Apply streptomycin at 0.5 lb (or 0.25 lb plus 1 pt adjuvant Regulaid) or per 100 gal dilute. The effectiveness of streptomycin can be increased by including the adjuvant Regulaid at the rate of 1 pint per 100 gal tank mix. Streptomycin remains effective for 3 to 5 days. For more information on fire blight of apple, reffer to the following websites: http://www.aces.uiuc.edu/vista/abstracts/a801.html http://www.caf.wvu.edu/kearneysville/disease_descriptions/omblight.html Biology and Epidemiology of Fire Blight For more information on management of fire blight, consult the "Illinois Commercial Tree Fruit Spray Guide 2004" (http://www.extension.iastate.edu/Publications/PM1282.pdf) and reffer to the following website: http://veg-fruit.cropsci.uiuc.edu/Diseases/Fire%20Blight.htm II. Illinois Summer Horticulture Day Illinois Summer Horticulture Day will be held in Edwards Apple Orchard near Poplar Grove, Illinois, on June 16, 2005.Edwards Apple Orchard is located near Poplar Grove, Illinois, approximately fifteen miles northeast of Rockford and 80 miles northwest of Chicago. Robert (Sr.) and Audrey Edwards raised corn, soybeans and livestock on the farm through the early 1960's. In 1963, Robert (Jr.) and Betty Edwards purchased the property and began the transition from dairy and row crop production to apple orchard and farm market. Ken and Barb (Edwards) Hall joined the family business in 1984, and purchased the business from Bob and Betty (Barb's parents) in 1990. Today, their focus continues to be on apples. They currently grow eleven varieties of apples (including Honey Crisp) forty-five acres. The trees are of dwarf and semi-dwarf types. Pumpkins and raspberries are also important crops and they grow small amounts of gourds, squash, ornamental corn and chrysanthemums. Pick-your-own apples has been a popular activity there for more than thirty years. they also offer pumpkins and raspberries as pick-your-own crops. For more information on Edwrds Apple Orchard, celick here.