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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Corvallis, Oregon » Horticultural Crops Disease and Pest Management Research Unit » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #413146
Research Project: Knowledge Based Tools for Exotic and Emerging Diseases of Small Fruit and Nursery Crops

Location: Horticultural Crops Disease and Pest Management Research Unit

Title: Old foe, new crop: Neofabraea actinidiae causes a cranberry fruit rot in Oregon and Washington

Author
item VALENTINE, DON - Oregon State University
item McGhee, Gayle
item Shaffer, Brenda
item BOUSKA, CASSIE - Oregon State University
item Stockwell, Virginia

Submitted to: American Phytopathological Society Annual Meeting
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/9/2024
Publication Date: 3/28/2024
Citation: Valentine, D.C., McGhee, G., Shaffer, B.T., Bouska, C., Stockwell, V.O. 2024. Old foe, new crop: Neofabraea actinidiae causes a cranberry fruit rot in Oregon and Washington [abstract]. American Phytopathological Society Annual Meeting.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Neofabraea actinidiae, a fungus that causes ripe and storage rot of kiwifruit and bull’s eye rot of pome fruit, was isolated frequently from ‘Stevens’ cranberries with fruit rot symptoms in coastal Oregon and Washington beds. In addition, N. actinidiae was isolated from asymptomatic cranberries that developed fruit rot symptoms after cold storage for one month at 4C. Koch’s postulates were fulfilled with several isolates, confirming the ability of N. actinidiae to cause a cranberry fruit rot. The cranberry fruit rot symptoms associated with N. actinidiae often appear to originate from a single point. The symptomatic tissue has a brown color in the center and a white to yellow ring encompassing the lesion. In culture, N. actinidiae was readily identified on V8 agar, growing as compact white circular colonies with dense aerial hyphae near the center, and the presence of a candy-apple red pigment in the agar under the colony. N. actinidiae was isolated more frequently from rotted berries grown in fields where neither chlorothalonil nor prothioconazole were applied. Oregon and Washington state are ranked 4th and 5th, respectively, in cranberry production in the U.S.A. The prevalence of cranberry fruit rot caused by N. actinidiae in other cranberry production states is not known. Understanding regional differences in grower practices and pathogen composition is important to develop appropriate disease management tools.