Abstract

Anthracnose fruit rot (AFR), caused by the fungal pathogen Colletotrichum acutatum, is one of the top two disease threats (along with Botrytis fruit rot) to strawberry production in the United States. The pathogen is able to damage almost all parts of the plant and fruit rot is the most important symptom. Transplants with infected root systems establish poorly and produce a minimal early crop. In 2013, emergence of strobilurin (Qo-I) fungicide-resistant C. acutatum isolates in Florida became a threat to both the disease-warning system (Strawberry Advisory System; StAS) and traditional calendar-based timing for fungicide sprays. The hidden nature of C. acutatum and the proliferation of strobilurin resistance threaten to destroy the value of strobilurin fungicides for strawberry growers and undermine new IPM decision tools like the StAS system. This field trial is the first year of the 2-year research project in Iowa. The objective was to modify the existing AFR warning system (StAS) to accommodate strobilurin fungicide resistance.

How to Cite:

Zhang, X., Gleason, M. & Yang, H., (2018) “Validation of Anthracnose Fruit Rot Disease-Warning System on Strawberry–Year 1”, Iowa State University Research and Demonstration Farms Progress Reports 2017(1).