Evaluation of screening methods and fruit composition in relation to anthracnose fruit rot resistance in blueberries

Anthracnose fruit rot is an important disease of blueberries, and losses are common in humid growing regions. Most commercial cultivars are susceptible and the disease is usually managed with fungicides. However, a few cultivars are considered resistant. The objectives of this study were to: (i) compare different inoculation techniques for anthracnose fruit rot resistance screening, (ii) screen ripe fruit from a range of blueberry cultivars using selected techniques, and (iii) investigate the role of fruit characteristics in anthracnose fruit rot resistance. The following inoculation methods were evaluated on ripe fruit of a susceptible and resistant cultivar using a conidial suspension: spray, droplet, and injection inoculation of whole fruit; and droplet inoculation of the open surface of cut fruit. All whole-fruit inoculations yielded similar results. Despite the removal of the epidermis, resistance was also expressed in cut fruit but relatively fewer conidia were produced. The cut-fruit assay required substantially less time and half the amount of fruit to accomplish than whole-fruit assays. Detached ripe fruit from 24 cultivars in 2008 and 26 cultivars in 2009 were screened for resistance. Results from the cut-fruit assay correlated best with published resistance ratings. To determine the possible role of fruit characteristics in resistance, fruit pH, titratable acidity, sugar content and firmness were regressed against various fruit rot resistance measures. Fruit rot resistance was positively correlated with sugar content. On defined media, mycelial growth was restricted as sugar concentration increased and pH decreased, suggesting that fruit composition may play a role in the resistance phenotype.