• Site Selection/Crop Rotation
• Isolation
• Fertilization
• Weed Control
• Plant Spacing
• Disease Control
• Insect Control

IPM = cultural + chemical + biological (where available) control measures.

Cultural control measures include: site selection, crop rotation, isolation and plant spacing.

Site Selection/Crop Rotation

Select a site with good air circulation and well drained soil. Avoid low lying areas where water tends to accumulate. Sites with soil which stays wet for an extended period of time can promote the development of root disease.

Raspberries are susceptible to Verticillium wilt. Do not plant raspberries following raspberries, strawberries, potatoes, tomatoes, eggplant, peppers, sunflowers or alfalfa.

Plantings established on sites recently cleared of stands of trees may encounter problems with Armillaria root rot.

Isolation

Avoid establishment of new plantings adjacent to old plantings. Old plantings can serve as a reservoir of virus and other diseases. Destroy any nearby wild raspberries which could also serve as reservoirs for virus disease.

Fertilization

Avoid excessive nitrogen application which contributes to development of a dense canopy and humidity buildup. High humidity in the canopy favours development of diseases such as berry rots and leaf disease. Excessive nitrogen encourages succulent growth which is more susceptible to bacterial blight and cane diseases.

Weed Control

Weeds can contribute to poor air circulation in the planting which contributes to high humidity and slow drying of canes and foliage. This situation favours development of both fungus and bacterial diseases. Good weed control in the field as well as shelterbelts, fence lines etc. also aids in insect control.

Plant Spacing

Practices that favour good air circulation through the row (ie. proper plant spacing, cane thinning, narrow rows) are especially important in reducing humidity in the canopy and promoting rapid drying of leaves and cane surfaces after rain or irrigation. This in turn can help to reduce or slow development of diseases such as powdery mildew, anthracnose, bacterial blight, and fruit rots.

Disease Control

Following are some important points with regards to control of some specific diseases:

• Anthracnose, spur blight and cane blight - after harvest cut away old fruiting canes close to the ground, remove and burn. This will aid in disease control by reducing the source of inoculum. Avoid close plantings to improve air circulation. Avoid excessive use of nitrogen.
  

• Cane blight - tends to be most severe in wet seasons. The fungus requires a wound or tissue damage for infection to occur. Avoid dense plantings. Abrasions from old cane stubs and cane spines are believed to be common infection sites. Prune with care to avoid wounding primocanes.
  

• Virus - symptoms usually appear as mottling and/or crinkling of foliage. Plants showing virus symptoms should be dug out and destroyed. Control insects such as aphids which vector virus diseases.
  

• Crown gall and cane gall - the best control is to establish plantings in soil without a history of crown gall. When galled plants are detected, dig out and destroy. A preplant dip can be made with a bacterial biological control agent called Dygall (see product description at the end of this section). This is a preventative measure which provides protection in the establishment year.
  

• Bacterial blight - overwinters in buds and on cane surfaces. Disease often follows freezing injury in the spring. Avoid excessive nitrogen application.

Insect Control

The raspberry crown borer damages roots, crowns and bases of canes. Remove and destroy wilting canes during the summer. After harvest, prune out canes with galls at the base.

For further information, contact your GO representative.