Objective: To identify the phytopathogenic fungi related to blueberry dieback, verify their pathogenicity, incidence after pruning, and the type of sealing. Design/methodology/approach: For this, symptomatic stem and branch samples were collected in eight commercial blueberry lots at the Ahome, El Fuerte, and Guasave municipalities, state of Sinaloa, from which 196 fungal isolates were obtained. These were morphologically identified to subsequently perform detached leaf and twig pathogenicity tests, on the Biloxi variety; likewise, two pruning angles and three sealants were evaluated and compared to an absolute control in a completely random arrangement. Results: Based on morphological analysis the Alternaria, Fusarium, Lasiodiplodia, Pestalotia, and Curvularia genera were detected. However, Lasiodiplodia isolates were pathogenic in leaves and twigs, while the best result is achieved with the angle 45° pruning sealing with washable plastic-type white vinyl paint plus copper oxychloride. Limitations on study/implications: None. Findings/conclusions: The results open new research lines related to molecular identification and disease impact on performance.
