Start strong for a successful blueberry season

In short... 

• Early-season planning and monitoring are crucial to prevent diseases like mummy berry and protect blueberry yield and quality. 
• Timely use of fungicides provides effective in-season disease control. 
• Megafol™ foliar biostimulant can also help in early season through supporting through stress, to help the crop reach full potential.  

A successful blueberry season in Canada starts long before the first berries ripen, Since weather is one of the greatest challenges to success, especially cool, wet springs that can create the ideal conditions for diseases, including  mummy berry,  proactive planning is essential to protect yield and fruit quality and achieve a successful season.  

From monitoring early season disease development to implementing timely cultural and chemical controls, setting fields up early ensures plants and bottom lines stay healthy, all season long. 

Mummy berry 

Mummy berry disease (caused by the fungus Monilinia vaccinii-corymbosi) is one of the key diseases affecting highbush blueberries in British Columbia and across Canada.  

Mummy berry develops in spring during wet conditions, particularly in low or poorly drained areas where mummies persist. This disease is a major concern for blueberry growers because it can cause significant yield loss. Infected berries will be unmarketable, and the disease can quickly build up in fields if not managed. Once primary infections are established, the disease is difficult to get rid of, making early detection, sanitation (removing mummies), and timely fungicide applications critical for long-term control. 

Successful blueberry solutions start with Syngenta 

Syngenta offers a complete range of disease management solutions – from early season prevention through to in-season control and plant growth support.  

Early season 

As the foundation of an effective blueberry disease control program, Bravo^® ZNC is the ideal solution to control diseases like alternaria fruit rot, anthracnose fruit rot and phomopsis canker. This proven, broad-spectrum fungicide protects against the major foliar diseases that reduce quality and yield – even after it rains. Bravo ZNC recommended use rate: 2.91 L/ac (7.2 L/ha) 

In season disease control 

When it comes to controlling and managing mummy berry in season, fungicide timing is critical. Applying Miravis^® Neo, also known as the mummy berry ‘heavy hitter’ at bud break not only provides control when its needed most – to prevent the establishment of primary infections and reduce the risk of secondary infections – but also provides long-lasting disease control and picks up other timely diseases like anthracnose fruit rot.  

With three modes of action, including the powerful technology of ADEPIDYN^®, blueberry growers can count on Miravis Neo for built-in resistance management, longer lasting and consistent performance. Miravis Neo recommended use rate: 0.3 L/ac (0.74 L/ha) 

Captan L is another solution for controlling mummy berry pre-bloom, especially in seasons where more fungicides applications are needed due to extended, wet conditions. Captan L is a preferred choice in those conditions, in rotation with other Syngenta fungicides, like Miravis Neo, because of its low resistance risk. Captan L can also control Botrytis and help limit secondary disease infections in fields with confirmed primary infections, making it a flexible rotation partner. The Captan L recommended use rate is 1.5L/ac (3.73 L/ha). 
 
Allegro^® fungicide is a second option, that also has efficacy on Botrytis for those times where mummy berry control is needed at or close to bloom.  

Next level success  

For growers that want to take crop success and management to the next level, Megafol™ is the solution. A foliar biostimulant that that provides anti-stress and growth factors, Megafol reduces the time plants need to recover from abiotic (environmental) stressors and spend more time growing. 

Megafol is especially effective in blueberries that need help managing temperature fluctuations once bud or leaf tissue is visible. Megafol can be applied before or during a stress event to assist in plant response. In blueberries, the biostimulant can be applied at pink bud using the high rate for the first application, then at 10-day intervals using the low rate. Even in the absence of environmental stressors, Megafol can help plants grow to reach their full potential. 

Megafol is easy to use with a wide application window and can be added to a planned herbicide or fungicide pass to support plant stress management and growth activation. 

For more information on Syngenta solutions in blueberries, visit our Horticulture Hub or reach out to your local crop inputs supplier.  

Always read and follow label directions. ADEPIDYN^®, Bravo^® , Miravis^®, and the Syngenta logo are trademarks of a Syngenta Group Company. Allegro^® is a registered trademark of ISK Biosciences Corporation. Megafol™ is a trademark of VALAGRO S.p.A. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. © 2026 Syngenta.