Stem die-back or wilt

Cane Blight

Cane Blight on a golden currant, Ribes odoratum H.L. Wendl. in Corvallis, Oregon.

• Causal organisms:
  Botryosphaeria ribis Gross. & Dug., North America
  Botrytis cinerea Pers., Europe and North America
• Crops affected: black, red, white, and ornamental currants and gooseberries

This disease is most apparent in late spring and early summer. A fungus attacks the flowers causing them to wilt and the shoot tips to die-back. This disease can be more severe after flowers are damaged by spring frost followed by periods of wet weather. This disease is most severe on golden currants R. odoratum or R. aureum, where it is seen most years under Corvallis, Oregon conditions.