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Raspberries – Common Diseases That Affect Them

raspberries

Raspberries are a delicious treat and can be used in a lot of recipes or just eaten on their own. You can even grow them on your own. They’re hardy and they will adapt very well to the soil conditions. however, they’re susceptible to a few diseases that are caused by bacteria, viruses, and fungi, as well as insects. We are going to look at these problems and how to treat and prevent them.

Fungal Diseases of Raspberries

Root rot (amellaria) and verticillium are both caused by fungi. The other kind of root rot (phytophthora) is the result of an organism that is similar to a fungus. You can tell that the raspberry plant has root rot (phytophthora) and verticillium by seeing your plant’s leaves yellowing and wilting. If the plant has Root rot (amellaria), it will suddenly die.

Cane blight and anthracnose will breed in the canes and will remain alive during winter. They often will infect wounds from pruning and other sites of damage on the raspberry canes. Downy mildew will arise from infected shoots and roots, and this, together with the illness known as powdery mildew, will affect the plant leaves. Powdery mildew will also affect the fruits and bulbs of the plant.

Purple blotch’s a fungal disease that will live on and affect the raspberry canes.

Bacterial Diseases

The bacteria is in the soil, causing crown gall when they’re spread to the raspberry plants through pruning tools that are infected and splashing water. Plants that have damage such as pruning wounds are going to be especially susceptible to this very serious disease, and it’s the most common bacterial disease that raspberry plants have.

Viral Diseases of Raspberries

Insects such as aphids, along with nematodes, will spread viruses that affect raspberry plants, and these viruses include:

  • Calico
  • Raspberry mosaic
  • Tomato ringspot
  • Bushy dwarf

They all affect the leaves and canes of your raspberries, and they also can be transmitted when you plant healthy plants and infected plants close to one another.

Treatment

Of those common diseases which affect your raspberry plants, you can only treat purple blotch, downy mildew, and powdery mildew using chemicals. Fungicides that are copper-based can help with controlling the diseases. The only way that you can treat the other fungal problems along with the bacterial and viral diseases, will consist of pruning the infected leaves and canes away, destroying the plants that are severely affected and removing them, and making sure that you aren’t planting new plants in soil that is affected.

Prevention

When you are growing raspberries, you want to make sure that you are doing all you can to prevent these diseases. Make sure that all of the seedlings, plants, and seeds are coming from disease-free, reliable nurseries. You should grow them in soil that’s not overly moist. It also shouldn’t have been used for wild berries, roses, or other kinds of plants that may serve as a vector for bacterial and fungal infections. Make sure that you are disinfecting all of your pruning tools after you use them, and control plant pests such as aphids with the right insecticides.

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