New Michigan Blueberry Facts on Alternaria fruit rot now available

Timothy Miles<milesti2@msu.edu>, Michigan State University Extension, Department of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences -

Strategies for managing Alternaria fruit rot in blueberries.

Close up of Alternaria fruit rot on ‘Jersey’ blueberries
Close up of Alternaria fruit rot on ‘Jersey’ blueberries. Photo by Timothy Miles, MSU.

Alternaria fruit rot is one of the main postharvest diseases of blueberry. This disease can easily develop when fruit is not harvested in a timely fashion and overripens on the bush. In postharvest situations, conditions that encourage disease development include the handling and packing of wet berries as well as suboptimal storage temperatures.

A new fact sheet, Michigan Blueberry Facts: Alternaria Fruit Rot (E3441), clearly discusses disease symptoms, diagnostic aspects of the disease, the disease cycle and appropriate management practices for blueberry growers. This sheet is part of the Michigan Blueberry Facts series, a compilation of reliable information on common pests and diseases in Michigan.

For more information about blueberry diseases and other important blueberry facts, please visit the Michigan State University Extension Blueberries website.

Download Michigan Blueberry Facts: Alternaria Fruit Rot (E3441)

This article was published by Michigan State University Extension. For more information, visit https://extension.msu.edu. To have a digest of information delivered straight to your email inbox, visit https://extension.msu.edu/newsletters. To contact an expert in your area, visit https://extension.msu.edu/experts, or call 888-MSUE4MI (888-678-3464).

Did you find this article useful?

More About Blueberries

More About Fruit & Nuts

Tag List
  • agriculture,
  • alternaria fruit rot,
  • berries,
  • blueberries,
  • fruit & nuts,
  • integrated pest management,
  • michigan blueberry facts,
  • msu extension
  • follow us on youtube
  • follow us on linkedin
Michigan State University
  • Spartans Will.
  • © Michigan State University

MSU is an affirmative-action, equal-opportunity employer, committed to achieving excellence through a diverse workforce and inclusive culture that encourages all people to reach their full potential.

Michigan State University Extension programs and materials are open to all without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, gender identity, religion, age, height, weight, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, marital status, family status or veteran status. Issued in furtherance of MSU Extension work, acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Quentin Tyler, Director, MSU Extension, East Lansing, MI 48824. This information is for educational purposes only. Reference to commercial products or trade names does not imply endorsement by MSU Extension or bias against those not mentioned.

The 4-H Name and Emblem have special protections from Congress, protected by code 18 USC 707.

We comply with the Federal Trade Commission 1998 Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA).