Moist conditions favor anthracnose infections. Start With Clean Plants. Plant only disease-free canes when establishing a new patch. Before taking new black or purple plants to the field for setting, cut off the stubs of the old canes attached to the young plants below the ground level and destroy them. Destroy Wild Hosts.
Wild brambles serve as a breeding ground for anthracnose and many other diseases.
The area surrounding the planting should be kept free of wild blackberries and raspberries. Maintain Good Weed Control. After harvest, remove and destroy badly-infected canes. Because the fungus survives on both living and dead plant tissue, old fruiting canes as well as severely affected new canes should be removed from your planting after harvest. If anthracnose becomes a persistent, chronic problem, fungicide sprays may be required for satisfactory control.