Image: Blueberry Bush with Mummy Berry Disease

This high-resolution landscape image captures a close-up view of a blueberry bush afflicted by mummy berry disease. The bush is set in a natural garden environment with a softly blurred green background, creating a sense of depth and tranquility. The foreground showcases several clusters of blueberries hanging from slender, reddish-brown stems. Among the healthy berries—plump, round, and deep blue with a characteristic dusty bloom—are numerous shriveled, dark brown to black berries that exhibit the telltale signs of mummy berry disease. These infected fruits appear dry, wrinkled, and irregularly shaped, resembling raisins or mummified remnants.

The elliptical leaves of the bush are vibrant green, with some showing subtle signs of stress such as yellowing or browning at the edges. Their smooth, slightly wavy margins and prominent venation add texture and realism to the composition. The reddish stems, dotted with nodes where leaves and berries emerge, contrast gently against the lush foliage and fruit.

The lighting in the image is soft and diffused, likely from an overcast sky or filtered sunlight, which enhances the natural colors without harsh shadows. This gentle illumination highlights the textures of the healthy and diseased berries, making the contrast between them visually striking. The image’s composition is balanced, with the clusters of fruit and leaves distributed evenly across the frame, drawing the viewer’s eye to the interplay between health and disease.

This image serves as a vivid visual reference for identifying mummy berry disease in blueberry plants. It illustrates the impact of the fungal infection Monilinia vaccinii-corymbosi, which causes the berries to shrivel and turn dark as they die. The juxtaposition of healthy and infected fruit provides a clear diagnostic contrast, useful for educational, agricultural, and horticultural contexts. The natural setting and high level of detail make the image both scientifically informative and aesthetically engaging.

The image is related to: Growing Blueberries: A Guide to Sweet Success in Your Garden