Life Sciences Commons^™

Towards A Molecular Method For The Detection Of Leaf Rust In Lowbush Blueberry, Steven Valentino

Honors College

Thekopsora minima, or leaf rust, is a fungal pathogen that infects Vaccinium angustifolium (lowbush blueberry), an economically important crop to the state of Maine. T. minima undergoes a complicated life cycle that contains five unique spore stages. It causes abscissions in the leaves of plants that may consequently lower yields in the next growing cycle if leaf drop is severe. Currently, growers are instructed to apply fungicides in late July to prevent further infection. However, this is often not effective due to poor timing. Data on spore release patterns would be beneficial to elucidate the infection period. However, microscopic identification …