The Systems Approach for Managing the Expression (S.A.M.E.) of cranberry fruit rot (CFR) is a comprehensive, interdisciplinary project designed to develop effective management strategies. This collaborative project addresses five critical knowledge gaps:
- There are no predictive models to identify high risk conditions and growers are often caught off guard when higher incidences of CFR occur.
- As broad-spectrum fungicides are lost, growers rely more heavily on at-risk fungicide chemistries.
- Due to the endophytic nature of these fungi, it is assumed that most fruits are infected, however not all infections lead to the development of rot. Therefore, we propose that environmental stress factors may lead to the expression of fruit rot.
- Current selections and germplasm of cranberry show enhanced fruit rot resistance, however, the mechanism for genetic resistance to fruit rot is unknown.
- A better understanding of the trade-offs between CFR management practices and what best incentivizes growers to proactively manage CFR will lead to adoption of effective CFR control.
This project aims to examine the components of the disease triangle (pathogen, host, environment) to enhance our understanding of the factors influencing cranberry fruit rot disease. The insights gained from this research will be disseminated to stakeholders and industry partners through webinars, the SAME newsletters, extension meetings, and our project website.