Let's not assume it's a disease quite yet. Could be something as common as drought-stress. That is, inadequate water at the roots.

To diagnose a disease, we need to know the progression of what happened when. And whether it happened to the 1st year canes (those that will flower next year) or to the fruiting canes (those that fruit this year and then die a normal death.

Jean, I hoped you'd see this post. Thanks! This is the second year that I've had this problem. It's just worse than last year. Both, the 1st year canes and the fruiting ones are showing stress. Some of the 1st year raspberries are turning dark green and wilting, and then dying. Some of them are just getting dry leaves. I try to not overwater, but maybe that's the problem. I've heard about root rot and have tried to avoid it.

The marionberries are more of a concern Last fall I noticed the leaves all turning brown on the fruit bearers, but I thought it was just too much sun and too little water. I didn't worry much, but this year some of the first and second year canes are looking stressed.

I have a big problem with gophers/moles/mice burrowing under the berry row and wonder if they might be causing probs. Also, I'm surrounded by a lot of wild berries and wonder if they are spreading disease.

I'm a fairly new gardener to Vernonia and am having a lot of challenges. These things didn't happen in my Salem garden.

It doesn't sound like what you have but berry growers should be aware of a newly problematic fungus called Phragmidium violaceum that is spreading rapidly in Oregon. It was considered at one time as a potential biocontrol for
Himalayan blackberries. Growers in Willamette Valley are being wiped out by this disease. Capital Press ran an article last month and the Salem Statesman Journal had an article yesterday.

http://159.54.226.83/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050804/BUSINESS/508040333/1040

Here is a link that might be useful: Capital Press: Blackberry Fungus

Well, the two main, soil-borne diseases of cane berries damage are a possibility. One ruins the 1st year canes whereas the other ruins the fruiting canes.

Although I've never heard of both being in the same place, I would guess it's possible.

Since you're in Vernonia, contact the folks at Columbia County's MG Helpline. It would really help them if you take entire plants as samples. So, if you can sacrifice a few, it would help. Oh yes -- *dig* them up rather than pull them up.

Perhaps you'll find your answer while you're digging. Because this is a new-to-you garden, it may be just that you have to modify your watering habits.

I just noticed in your original post:
"I have a big problem with gophers/moles/mice burrowing under the berry row and wonder if they might be causing probs. "

That could be the problem. If the burrows are underneath the plants, the roots may be sitting in air -- if they are indeed alive -- rather than soil. Thus, water will travel the tunnels rather than among the soil particles.

If so, perhaps you need to cope with the critters instead of the failing berries.

Get positive ID from the County Extension agent or better, send a sample to Oregon State University Plant Pathology.
Call first for instructions. They may want to come out on their own to look.
It could be a number of things, but guessing over this forum will be a shotgun approach.
Do you grow potatoes, tomatoes and peppers near your blackberries? That is a bad combination for Verticillium problems.

I originally suggested that sample plants be taken to the Extension Service office in Columbia County.

That suggestion was made because OSU Extension Agents don't visit home gardens. Also because diagnosis is much easier when one sees the plants first-hand.

In this particular instance, recall that a suitable sample will be an entire plant *dug* -- not pulled -- from the ground.

Thanks for these suggestions. I will follow up with the Columbia Co Extension Service. Regarding the critters, they have dug exactly under the plants (and around my trees, under every piece of wood or anything I leave on the ground for over a week). That's why I've resorted to lining raised beds with wire. The raspberries are in wire beds, but the marions are in bare ground with no protection. When I water the marions, I push the hose down in the tunnels until they are saturated, but that can't be as good as growing in good soil. It looks like there are several problems going on. This is a lot of work!

Harley: This new fungus must be what I was observing in Woodburn. The plants were much worse than what we usually see during hot spells. It's ironic, that so many people complain about these berries taking over, and try to poison them out. We just didn't know a good thing...(I couldn't read the Capitol Press because I don't have a subscription.)

Boiziau: I was thinking that since my plants looked just like the Woodburn and LaCenter ones, maybe there's something spreading like wildfire through the area.

Yes, I do grow tomatoes near the berries but the tomatoes are very healthy. So far.

Jean: What will I be looking for in the roots when I dig?

Once again, thanks to you all. Lyn