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My neighbour on our lottie has a few blackcurrant bushes and has noticed a strange disease that seems to be spreading.

The stems of the affected bushes have small 'nodules' in the bark about the size of a small pea. These split open to reveal a fluffy white substance. They look a bit like popcorn kernels that have failed to pop properly - if that makes any sense.

Any ideas what it could be? I've done a Google and it doesn't seem to be any of the common blackcurrant diseases.

Any help much appreciated.

Robsa

The fluffy white part makes me think it could be woolly aphids, or scale insects, but the way you describe the nodules sounds like it might be crown gall or something similar?

This looks like a good site for diagnosing blackcurrant problems, but nothing similar to what you describe?

http://www.ars-grin.gov/cor/ribes/ribsymp/ribsymp.html

Thanks for the link. I can't find anything that looks like what this guy has got though.

I'll see if I can get a picture of it from him.

Robsa

sounds like big bud mite

http://gardenaction.co.uk/techniques/pests/big_bud_mite.htm

Glow,

No, the buds look fine - it's nodules on the stems that look swollen.

I'll try and get a picture.

Thanks,
Robsa