[3] The berries are filled with a cotton-like fungus and are generally yellowish with tan stripes or blotches at maturity, making them unmarketable.

[4] Cottonball tip blight differs from other shoot diebacks, in that tan V- or U-shaped lesions can be observed centered on the leaf midvein.

Dried-up remains of diseased fruit contain sclerotia and are commonly called “mummies.” The “mummies” are roughly spherical and about ½ inch in diameter.

About the time of budbreak in the spring, apothecia develop from overwintered pseudosclerotia—the hardened, dried-out “mummified” remains of previously diseased fruit.

Ascospores infect succulent young developing shoots (0.5 – 1.5 inches long), causing tip blight.

Conidia borne either by wind or insect deposition may land on the flower stigma, germinate, grow down the style, and colonize the ovary.

It has been suggested that incidence of disease is greatest when there are prolonged wet periods during the maturing apothecia phase, rainy spells during bloom, and an abundance of mummified berries.

[6] Ditches where dense moss is growing and areas where recently applied sand is saturated for an extended time are ideal sites for more severe cases of tip blight.

Further studies have shown that the temperature of the duff and upper canopy within the bed, in addition to relative humidity, correlate best with the constant presence of airborne ascospores during peak dispersal time.

These variables (temperature and moisture) along with wind speed are factors in the constant presence of airborne conidia during peak dispersal time.

"If disease pressure was low to moderate (fewer than 15% of berries infected), two fungicide applications are recommended: one at 10 – 20% bloom and again 7 – 10 days later.

If disease pressure was high in the previous year (greater than 15% of berries infected), two additional fungicide applications are recommended: one when about half the shoots have started to elongate and the second 7 – 10 days later.

[6] There are other fungicides that have been used in the management of the disease but some can be extremely toxic to fish, which is important to note specially due to the amount of runoff and drainage water that the harvest requires.