Strawberry Crown Rot
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Strawberry Crown Rot
 Strawberry Crown rot or vascular collapse in strawberries is caused by the soilborne fungus Phytophthora.. this soilborne fungal disease is spread by rain splash onto the fruit. Spore also enter through damaged parts of the plant.Susceptible Plant- Strawberry Symptoms- Usually begin in the upper part of the crown and spread downward. The youngest leaves wilt suddenly and often turn a bluish green. Wilting spreads quickly throughout the plant, and complete collapse occurs within days. Collapse may be one sided, depending on the number of crowns infected. Infected plants will often break at the upper part of the crown when lifted from the soil. When cut lengthwise, the crown appears brown or sometimes rose pink throughout. Crown tissue will disintegrate with time. Below ground symptoms do not appear until the aboveground plant parts are dead. Plants may recover from the disease but are usually stunted. Strawberry crown rot symptoms are most common between flowering and harvest when the plants are under stress. Warm, wet conditions and poorly drained soils favor infection. Symptom development is favored by high temperatures and low moisture conditions, factors that apparently stress the plant before harvest. Prevention and Control- Always plant healthy certified plant stock. Make sure growing site is well drained. If strawberry crown rot has set in remove infected plants. Apply a good layer of straw or other protective material to keep fruit off soil surface. Plant new crop far from the previous growing site. Provide adequate soil drainage (plant strawberries in raised beds) reducing the risk of plants developing strawberry crown rot.
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