Blackening and decay of roots in association with plant stunting are common in perennial strawberry (Fragaria ×ananassa Duch.) plantings worldwide; this syndrome is commonly referred to as black root rot (BRR), although its causal agent(s) are not well characterized. We conducted a New York field survey that measured many physical and cultural factors in healthy and diseased fields to identify those most strongly associated with BRR. Factors significantly correlated with BRR symptoms were soil compaction, fine soil texture, absence of raised beds, high application rates of the herbicide terbacil, advanced age of planting, nonuse of the fungicide metalaxyl, and cumulative years of strawberry monoculture. Populations of Pratylenchus spp. were not associated with poor root health. The data suggest that most factors that compromise root growth may predispose strawberry plants to infection by site-specific BRR pathogens. Chemical names used: 3-tert-butyl-5-chloro-6-methyluracil (terbacil); N-(2,6-dimethylphenyl)-N-(methoxyacetyl) alanine methyl ester (metalaxyl).
Biotic, Edaphic, and Cultural Factors Associated with Strawberry Black Root Rot in New York