Managing Eastern Filbert Blight
Jay W. Pscheidt, Extension Plant Pathologist
When you first discover Eastern Filbert Blight (EFB) in your orchard it can be overwhelming. The disease typically has already been there for several years. What you see today is only the tip of the iceberg since there are many more infections that will not show up until the next year. Management of eastern filbert blight will require the use and integration of many tools by the hazelnut industry including scouting, spraying and pruning.
Scouting for early detection is our most important activity for ALL hazelnut growers. Growers from Eugene to Salem must be as vigilant as growers in the greater Portland area. It works! Scout your orchards at least twice a year.
Replace Pollinizers Reducing the amount of susceptible tissue will reduce your EFB risk. Most of the industry has a medium risk with 'Daviana' pollinizers in 'Barcelona' orchards. Reduce your risk even more by replacing those 'Daviana' trees. Don't wait for EFB to start. 'Ennis' orchards have the highest EFB risk because they are so susceptible. Removing wild seedlings and suppressing suckers early will also reduce your risk.
Fungicides protect healthy tissue and are recommended for all orchards in the Willamette Valley. A total of 4 fungicide applications are needed starting at budbreak (early to mid-march) and continuing at regular intervals (every 2 weeks depending on the weather and material used) for an 8 week period (until early May). This is the minimum spray requirement to consistently reduce the disease spread in orchards with established infections. Less than four applications increase the risk of continued spread of the disease.
Remove Cankers Pruning is the ONLY way to remove EFB from the tree. Susceptible trees with many cankers MUST be removed. Resistant trees with one or two cankers can be lightly pruned (be sure to cut 1 to 3 feet below the visible canker).
Continued: Where to Focus Your Resources
- Management Tour
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Management Pages
Scout
Replace
Pollinizers
Apply
Fungicides
Remove
Cankers
Plant
Resistant Cultivars
Destroy
Escaped Seedlings
Burning
Rules
Where
to Focus
Your
Resources
For more information
contact
OSU Faculty.