New Strawberry Disease in Ohio?

A new strawberry disease has been found in Indiana and researchers are looking fo

New strawberry disease symptoms on foliage.

r samples to determine the extent of the problem. The disease, caused by a species of the fungus Neopestaltiopsis, has been reported in several southeastern states and other countries where it causes leafspots, fruit spots and a plant decline. In Indiana, the disease has been reported to cause a leafspot (Figure 1) and a plant decline. This disease resembles Phomopsis and upon further investigation may ultimately turn out to be Phomopsis.

Researchers are asking commercial growers who believe that they may have observed the disease to contact the Purdue University Plant and Pest Diagnostic Clinic (ppdl-samples@groups.purdue.edu​ or 765-494-7071). The PPDL will waive sample handling fees for these samples until the researchers obtain the desired number of samples for the survey. Updates will be posted to the Hotline and to the PPDL website. Samples from multiple strawberry varieties and different types of production fields (matted row, plasticulture, high tunnel) are encouraged.

Information required for each sample:

  1. Strawberry variety
  2. Growing method: Matted row or plasticulture
  3. Location (state and county) where grown
  4. Approximate date of planting or year of matted row culture.
  5. Symptoms observed: Leaf spot, fruit rot, crown rot, or a combination of these.

This research will attempt to determine where the disease exists in Indiana and how the disease may be controlled. Results of these studies will be reported here when completed. The North American Strawberry Growers Association is sponsoring this research.

One thought on “New Strawberry Disease in Ohio?

  1. James, I did my MS and PhD at Ohio State in Plant Pathology at Ohio State in the early 70’s under Fritz Schmitthenner and Wayne Ellett. My research was on a disease in soybeans we named Phomopsis Seed Decay. Could a variant of the Phomopsis spp.widespread on soybeans in the Midwest have adopted to strawberries? If you culture it from strawberries and try to infect soybean stems or inoculate seed the results may give you some connection.
    Konrad Kmetz

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