Diseases
Ribes plants are susceptible to an array of diseases, including white pine blister rust and mildew. There are, however, new varieties being developed, or have already been developed, to overcome some of these diseases.
Reversion (mainly blackcurrants) causes a decline in yield, and is quite widespread in Europe (but rarely on other continents). It often goes unnoticed by private gardeners. It is not related to the recognised botanical process of reversion, but is a virus carried by the Blackcurrant gall mite Cecidophyopsis ribis. Symptoms include a modification of leaf shape in summer, and swollen buds ("Big bud") often carrying thousands of microscopic mites, appearing in winter. While pest control has limited effectiveness, severely infected bushes should be destroyed. All new plants purchased should be certified as virus-free.
White Pine Blister Rust - immunity: Tahsis, Blackcomb (BC breeding program - MBC) Mildew - resistance: Whistler, Blackcomb, Tahsis, Nechako
Currant and gooseberry leaf spot (Drepanopeziza ribis) is another disease, but it is not usually a serious problem for most varieties developed through prominent breeding programs.
Read more about this topic: Blackcurrant
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