Establishment of Southern Highbush Blueberry Cultivars and Suppression of Phytophthora Root Rot Using Cover Crop and Soil Amendment Treatments
ORCID
Smith: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7276-0525
MSU Affiliation
Extension Service (MSUES); Coastal Research and Extension Center
Creation Date
2026-06-30
Abstract
Phytophthora root rot is a major disease of blueberry that relies on cultural practices, including soil amendments, for disease management. We evaluated the effect of three cover crops on the establishment and growth of southern highbush blueberry (SHB) plants and on their ability to suppress Phytophthora root rot infection of plants grown in a field previously identified to be infested with Phytophthora cinnamomi. In the spring and fall for 3 years, six soil amendment treatments (three cover crops [Legume, Grass, and Brassica], aged ground pine bark [Bark], fungicide drench [Ridomil], and none [Control]) were applied and tilled into the soil 6 months later. After 3 years, all soil amendment treatment plots were tilled into the soil, and 2-year-old plants of three SHB cultivars were transplanted into each treatment plot and grown for 3 years. Three bioassays failed to detect the presence of P. cinnamomi in the field; therefore, we were unable to determine the effect of the cover crops on Phytophthora root rot. Plant growth measurements (leaf and flower development scores and plant vigor ratings) and final measurements (cane count, total stem length and weight, cane diameter, and root measurements) showed no differences between plants grown in the Control treatment and those grown in the three cover crop treatments (Brassica, Grass, and Legume); however, plants in the Bark treatment scored higher than those in the Control treatment in these parameters. The results support previous reports of the beneficial effect of organic soil amendments (e.g., peat moss, sawdust, bark) on blueberries.
Publication Date
7-24-2025
Publication Title
PhytoFrontiers
Publisher
American Phytopathological Society
First Page
355
Last Page
365
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a
Creative Commons Public Domain Dedication 1.0 License.
Recommended Citation
Smith, B. J., Stafne, E. T., & Read, Q. D. (2025). Establishment of Southern Highbush Blueberry Cultivars and Suppression of Phytophthora Root Rot Using Cover Crop and Soil Amendment Treatments. PhytoFrontiers™, 5(3), 355–365. https://doi.org/10.1094/PHYTOFR-09-24-0096-R
