Sea Buckthorn: Common Problems, Pests, and Diseases

Like all other fruit, sea buckthorn berries can be susceptible to various diseases, primarily caused by fungi and bacteria. Here are a few diseases that can cause significant damage to sea buckthorn berries:

1. Botrytis or Gray Mold (Botrytis cinerea): This common fungal pathogen can infect sea buckthorn berries. High humidity and cooler temperatures favour its growth. The disease begins as small, water-soaked spots that quickly enlarge, causing the berries to rot and develop a gray, fuzzy mould.
2. Powdery Mildew (Erysiphe spp.): While powdery mildew primarily affects leaves, it can also spread to the berries, covering them with a white fungal growth. This disease can decrease the quality of the fruit and may cause it to drop prematurely.
3. Anthracnose (Colletotrichum spp.): Anthracnose can cause dark, sunken spots on the fruit, and severely infected berries may rot completely. The disease spreads rapidly in wet, humid conditions.
4. The spotted wing drosophila (SWD) fly: Present in most areas of North America, this invasive Asian species has hit the European commercial sea buckthorn fruit market extremely hard. In some years, up to 90% of commercial growers can experience substantial crop losses due to this pest. The fly lays its eggs inside unripe fruit, leaving the larvae to feed and mature under the skin of the berry. The injury to the berry caused by the fly leaves the plant and fruit vulnerable to subsequent plant pathogens. In addition, mild winters seem to be most favourable for this fly’s survival, so the current climate change situation can greatly impact numbers present across many areas of Canada. Ultimately, there are some conventional ways to manage this pest. However, no organic pesticides exist currently. The best practices for natural pest management are to eliminate any non-crop fruits, such as wild raspberry, blackberry, blueberry, mulberry, honeysuckle, and dogwood, that are prime SWD targets in the surrounding areas. Also, regularly inspect crops as the berries begin to ripen and cull any affected fruits. The telltale sign of SWD-affected berries is premature wilting of the berries along the branches. 

In summary, despite their hardiness, sea buckthorn plants are susceptible to a variety of problems and pests. It’s important to monitor plants regularly for any signs of these issues and address them promptly, such as providing adequate water and nutrients. For more information on growing sea buckthorn, I invite you to read my other blog articles: Growing Sea Buckthorn 101, and Growing Sea Buckthorn 102.

Following Good Agricultural Practices helps protect sea buckthorn plants from pest invasions, and periodically checking for diseases can ensure that your sea buckthorn shrubs thrive