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CRANBERRIES
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Cranberry Yellow Vine
Cranberry Yellow Vine
Cranberry Yellow Vine syndrome
Herbicide Injury (not Yellow Vine)
Evital damage on cranberry (not to be confused with Yellow Vine)
ABOVE (Left two photos): Sample of vines with Yellow Vine Syndrome taken from Washington County, Maine on Aug. 25, 1999 RIGHT: Cranberry leaves damaged by the herbicide, Evital. Notice how the yellow versus green patterning is reversed from that of Yellow Vine.
The following is taken--with some minor editing--from the UMASS Extension's Cranberry Station Newsletter -- August 1999 issue (pp 2 and 3 -- by Carolyn DeMoranville and Bruce Lampinen):

What causes YV?

The YV symptoms are most likely due to nutritional imbalances in the cranberry plants. BUT fertilizer management is not the cause of the problem. Instead, it is believed that the nutrient imbalance is secondary to root problems caused by stress. The stress involved is most often water stress (too much or too little) but may also involve herbicide stress on some beds [Maine Note: Casoron was a likely contributor for YV found on Maine beds in 1999]. These stress conditions lead to poor root development.

Beds with YV that were visited had soil water content in the YV areas that was either much higher or much lower than that in the surrounding green areas. The consistent finding has been that the rooting depth in YV areas is shallower than that in unaffected areas. Fertilizer tends to be washed away from the roots during irrigation and areas with poor rooting may not be able to move enough minerals and water to meet the demands of both shoots and fruit. This sets up a competition for resources in which the developing fruit and the youngest leaves (at the top of the shoot) are the best competitors, leaving the older leaves showing symptoms of nutrient stress, in this case, YV.

Treating YV -- short term fixes

YV plants are not doing well at taking in nutrients from the roots. For this reason, adding more fertilizer to the soil most likely will do little to arrest or reverse YV. Instead, foliar feeding should be considered. Providing nutrients through the leaves, bypassing the roots, can help to bring the plants back into nutritional balance. Based on tissue testing in YV bogs over a period of years, and based on field research and grower experiences, the most likely foliar feeds to be helpful are magnesium (Mg) and urea. These should be used separately. If you have had success with Mg in the past, try it first, otherwise try the urea first. Apply at dawn or dusk (preferred) as you would a pesticide (minimize wash-off). The aim is to have the plant stay wet for at least 1 hour after the material is applied so that it may penetrate into the leaves. Use urea at 2-4 lb/A (to give approximately 1-2 lb/A nitrogen). For Mg applications, use a commercial foliar feed (3% Mg) at 1-2 qt/A or apply 2/3 lb/A Epsom Salts (magnesium sulfate). Urea and Epsom Salts should be dissolved in water prior to application as a foliar feed.

Treating YV -- long term solutions

In the long term, changes in water management may be needed. In most cases, YV appears in areas that were too wet early in the season. This leads to limited root development and these same areas are then the most susceptible to YV and water stress later in the season. Rooting depth can be improved by keeping the bed well drained early in the season. This is particularly important in years with frequent frost nights requiring sprinkler operation or in years with heavy rainfall. When the water table is closer than about 6 inches of the surface, root development and root function is impaired. Ideally, irrigation water should be applied as a combination of subirrigation (manipulation of the water table) and overhead sprinkler irrigation.

If you have comments or questions about this page,
contact Charles Armstrong at: charlesa@umext.maine.edu
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These pages are currently being maintained by the Pest Management Office, University of Maine Cooperative Extension. Page Last Modified: 04/11/08