Blueberry Fruit Rot Caused by Phomopsis vaccinii. R. D. Milholland, Professor, Department of Plant Pathology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh 27650. M. E. Daykin, Research Technician, Department of Plant Pathology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh 27650. Plant Dis. 67:325-326. Accepted for publication 25 October 1982. Copyright 1983 American Phytopathological Society. DOI: 10.1094/PD-67-325.

Phomopsis vaccinii caused a fruit rot of blueberry at harvest in North Carolina. The fungus apparently penetrates blueberry fruit at all stages of development and remains latent until maturation. Fruit infected with Phomopsis are typically soft and often split resulting in leakage of juice. The infected fleshy tissue is reddish brown and mushy. Blueberry cultivars Croatan, Harrison, Murphy, and Wolcott were all susceptible to Phomopsis fruit rot with Harrison being the most susceptible.