Blackberry Pests and Diseases: [Detection, Causes and Solutions]

The blackberry could be considered one of the richest and most useful fruits that exist in the kitchen to create all kinds of desserts.

They grow in a small bush with branches full of thorns that have the property of being quite invasive.In some areas it is known as blackberry and the structure of the fruit is dark purple.

As it develops in humid climates and low temperatures, it is necessary to be very attentive to the presence of possible pests and diseases.

botrytis

It is a fungal disease that is capable of damaging the entire plant, from the stem to the fruits.

Botrytis is also known as rot because it has a devastating effect on the affected areas.

A kind of white powder settles on them, at the beginning, which later takes shape as a layer of damp mold.This layer grows progressively until it occupies the entire area, being able to reach the fruits and ruin production completely.

Botrytis needs high levels of humidity to appear, so it is essential to control this factor by offering aeration to the bushes. In case symptoms of the disease appear, the most recommended at home is the treatment of milk .

If the damage is not very advanced and is only evident on a few leaves, for example, removing them and burning them could also help.

stem borer

It is a pest that manifests itself in the form of an insect, whose larvae are capable of penetrating the interior of blackberry plants through the stem.

What is happening is that the borer consumes the tissues , thus creating a series of galleries throughout the structure.

As a consequence, the stems begin to lose their internal content, becoming hollow and preventing the plant from being healthy.Furthermore, the lack of nutrient transport leads the leaves to appear chlorotic and eventually to appear covered in necrosis.

If the borer increases its work capacity with a greater number of larvae, the plant will end up irremediably dying .Once installed in the stem it is very difficult to deal with it because it develops its life in the internal zone.

However, some organic extracts such as neem oil will play a very valuable preventive role around this pest.The mode of application can be through direct spraying of the product or through a solution that will be delivered through irrigation.

fruit fly and worm

It is a pest that frequently infects fruit crops with sweet pulp and thin skin, as in the case of blackberries.

Their action is exerted on the already ripe fruit , leading to the possible loss of the entire harvest if not treated in time.

The fly, by itself, does not cause greater damage to the fruit by consumption, but rather the female lays her eggs on the blackberries.

These eggs, when they hatch, produce the larva that will be in charge of feeding on the pulp of the fruit and causing the greatest damage.In general, the larvae do not tend to consume the entire fruit, but their mere presence is already capable of creating rot in the structure.

The easiest way to deal with this pest is to work with the adults through the use of traps. There are some for commercial sale, but they can also be made at home, taking advantage of the fruits themselves as an attraction mechanism.

Wilting

It is a disease caused by fungi that survive in the soil and, from there, exert considerable damage from the roots of blackberries.

The effect they produce on these is rot, damaging the area and preventing nutrients and water from reaching the rest of the bush areas.

For this reason, the aerial areas also begin to show symptoms, where the most obvious ones occur in the yellow color of the leaves.Sometimes there is a tendency to think that irrigation or fertilization are not being enough and that is why the plant withers.

To avoid confusion, just look at the structure of the stem, because in case of fungal wilt it will be dark brown .It is best to prevent the disease from being able to attack the crop by disinfecting it with an appropriate fungicide for the soil.

It will also be necessary to avoid planting in areas where potato or tomato crops have been grown before.

ring spot

It is a disease that occurs due to the presence of a series of parasites that live in the soil and are known as nematodes.

In this case, what is generated as the most obvious symptoms is the presence of light green spots, almost watery, on the leaves .

The fact is that nematodes produce a kind of tumors in the root area that are difficult to see with the naked eye.But, as a consequence of its action, the plant is unable to receive the amount of nutrients it needs to survive.

This leads to them becoming weak, not growing as they should or doing so with malformations.In the event that they develop fruits, they remain dwarfed and tend to fall from the bush at the wrong time and very easily.When dealing with the disease, the use of nematicides is the most recommended.

worm sticks leaves

It is a pest that prefers to consume the leaves of the blackberry bush.

As there are many pests that follow more or less the same attack pattern, a simple way to define that it is this is by the shape of the leaves.

These, far from remaining in their original form or with spots, are rolled up , which gives us a clear message that it is this type of worm.When applying an effective treatment, the most recommended is the use of Bacillus.

And so, taking into account each of these recommendations, we will enjoy delicious and juicy blackberries every summer.

thrips

Thysanoptera (better known as Trips) are small insects between 1 and 3 mm that basically feed on fungi and vegetables. They are so tiny that it is usually necessary to use a magnifying glass to observe them in detail.

Thrips are insects of various colors, with an elongated shape and whose saliva exerts considerable damage on the structure of plants. They reproduce through eggs that later become larvae. In the adult phase they develop wings with some type of fur.

Quite effective remedies against thrips are neem oil or potassium soap.