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BC Blueberries — Powered by Nature Field Guide

Abiotic Disorders

Damage from weather, nutrients, sprays and other non-living causes.

15 entries

Contact Spray Injury Abiotic Disorders

Contact Spray Injury

Berries may have rough textured, brown scar lines on the surface (russetting). Damage may be caused by various pesticide, fertilizer and/or adjuvant sprays.

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Drought Injury Abiotic Disorders

Drought Injury

Leaf margins turn brown and dry following hot weather and inadequate irrigation.

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Fertilizer burn Abiotic Disorders

Fertilizer burn

Leaf margins turn brown and dry. Plants may be killed. Young plants are most at risk from excess fertilizer placed too close to the crown.

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Glyphosate (Roundup) Injury Abiotic Disorders

Glyphosate (Roundup) Injury

Young leaves become small, strap-like, deformed and yellow. Damage is most severe in the spring following exposure to glyphosate spray the previous fall.

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Green Fruit Drop (GFD) Abiotic Disorders

Green Fruit Drop (GFD)

Extensive GFD has only been observed in ‘Draper’ and is related to insufficient allocation of calcium under the Fraser Valley’s climatic conditions. Fruit sets and develops normally until…

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Hail Damage Abiotic Disorders

Hail Damage

Leaves are shredded. Flowers may fall off prior to pollination. Berries have small, indented, brown scars that remain visible as the berries ripen.

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Iron Chlorosis Abiotic Disorders

Iron Chlorosis

Growth is stunted. Leaves, starting from the shoot tips, are small and yellow with green veins. Condition occurs when the soil pH is above 5.5, causing iron to…

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Magnesium Deficiency Abiotic Disorders

Magnesium Deficiency

Older leaves turn red between the veins. Leaf centres remain dark green along the veins resulting in a “Christmas tree” pattern on the leaves.

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Nitrogen Deficiency Abiotic Disorders

Nitrogen Deficiency

Growth is stunted. Leaves are a uniform pale green and may turn red prematurely in late August. Condition is often seen on young plants where sawdust mulch has…

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Phenoxy (2, 4-D, MCPA) Abiotic Disorders

Phenoxy (2, 4-D, MCPA)

Herbicide-injured leaves may be twisted and distorted, with serrated margins.

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Poor Pollination Abiotic Disorders

Poor Pollination

Berry size is uneven. At petal fall, poorly pollinated berries are small, flat and reddish in colour. Fruit may drop shortly after bloom. Poor pollination occurs when there…

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Rain Splitting Abiotic Disorders

Rain Splitting

Berries swell and the skin cracks, exposing the green flesh of the berry. Split berries can quickly become infected with fruit rot. Splitting occurs when heavy rains occur…

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Spring Frost Injury Abiotic Disorders

Spring Frost Injury

Developing shoots and flower clusters suddenly wilt, turn brown and die. Frost damage may affect individual pink tip buds in a cluster or just the centre leaf in…

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Sun-scald Abiotic Disorders

Sun-scald

Berries develop a pinkish-grey soft, sunken patch on the side exposed to the sun, usually the south side. Damage occurs after a period of extreme summer heat.

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Winter Damage Abiotic Disorders

Winter Damage

Individual flower and leaf buds turn brown and fail to develop. One year-old branches may be killed from the tips back. Extreme cold in late fall/winter occurs before…

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