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Raspberries are crumbly. #877594

Asked July 17, 2024, 10:58 AM EDT

My home garden seems to have symptoms of raspberry bushy dwarf virus. The fruits are small and deformed. Only four druplets per fruit. Last year we saw some crumbly fruits and now it’s most.

Ramsey County Minnesota

Expert Response

Thank you for reaching out to ask2.extension.  I found the following information on-line.
Since raspberry bushy dwarf virus is primarily pollen-transmitted, it may be difficult to know if your raspberries are infected before the fruit signs of raspberry bushy dwarf disease appear.

Once a raspberry plant is showing signs of raspberry bushy dwarf virus, it's too late to treat them and removal is the only option to stop the spores of this disease. Before you replace your raspberries though, scour the area for wild raspberries and destroy them. This may not protect your new raspberries completely, since pollen can travel long distances, but it will increase your chances of staying disease-free. You can also transmit RBDV to uninfected plants on unsterilized tools, so make sure to thoroughly clean your equipment before using it to plant certified nursery stock. When shopping for new raspberry plants, watch for the varieties 'Esta' and 'Heritage,' they are believed to be resistant to raspberry bushy dwarf virus. Dagger nematodes have also been implicated in the spread of RBDV between raspberry plantings, so choosing a completely new site for your new raspberries is recommended as a protective measure since these nematodes can be difficult to eradicate.

I’m sorry this is happening.  There is some information on how to treat this disease, but trying to read it is really hard.  You could check it out.

Deb Kroon Replied July 19, 2024, 5:37 PM EDT

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