Optimization of Preventative Biorational Strawberry Fruit and Root Disease Management Techniques

Project Overview

LNE20-401
Project Type: Research and Education
Funds awarded in 2020: $244,349.00
Projected End Date: 04/30/2023
Grant Recipients: West Virginia University; Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University; University of Maine
Region: Northeast
State: West Virginia
Project Leader:
Dr. Mahfuz Rahman
West Virginia University

Information Products

Commodities

  • Fruits: berries (strawberries)

Practices

  • Crop Production: biological inoculants, nutrient cycling, tissue analysis
  • Education and Training: decision support system, demonstration, extension, on-farm/ranch research, participatory research, technical assistance, workshop
  • Pest Management: biofumigation, biological control, biorational pesticides, integrated pest management, prevention
  • Soil Management: soil analysis, soil chemistry, soil microbiology, soil physics, soil quality/health

    Proposal abstract:

    Problem and Justification: In the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic, there is a growing concern related to latent strawberry diseases, specifically Anthracnose Fruit Rot (AFR). AFR causes a latent infection on strawberry foliage, creating problems for both propagators and fruit producers who believed they had disease free plant material. Currently there is no reliable diagnostic method-based protocol for plant propagators to test for anthracnose and make marketing decision or alert fruit producers of a need for preventative measures.  As a result, fruit producers are caught off-guard due to symptom appearance during fruit set affecting marketable fruit. There is growers identified need to detect latent infection on cuttings and plug plants to prevent  occurrence of anthracnose. Black root rot complex (BRRC) and crown rot (CR) caused by multiple soil-borne fungi that cause plant mortality or severely affect plant vigor and productivity of strawberries are also limiting factors after methyl bromide had been phased out. These diseases are often more problematic for small-scale growers who grow strawberries organically and/or utilize a perennial matted row system with limited option for crop rotation, which is a common practice in the Northeast.

    Solution and Approach: A newly developed latent infection diagnostic method (combination of herbicide-based bioassay and DNA-based PCR method) will be utilized in collaboration with plant propagators to detect latent infection from tips and plug plants to predict anthracnose occurrence, and to recommend potential preventative measures. Results from the application of probiotic organisms on strawberry plugs prior to planting from our initial work suggest that early colonization of plug root systems by plant growth promoting microbes competitively exclude colonization of roots/crowns by pathogens in field setting to reduce plant mortality in a perennial system. This practice, along with mustard bio-fumigation, anaerobic soil disinfestation were also found to be a comprehensive approach to manage disease pressure sustainably and economically.

    Milestones and Performance Target: In the proposed work, we will capitalize on our initial findings to educate strawberry growers on sustainable options for managing major root and crown diseases in multiple states. In addition, we will develop a diagnostic-based framework to support plant suppliers to produce latent infection free transplants. These plant suppliers have a wide customer base (fruit producers) in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic USA. Two Fruit producers from each of WV, ME and VA will evaluate treated and non-treated plants on their farms in an experimental setting by planting either in bio-fumigated or anaerobically disinfested soil or non-treated plots.

    Two major plant propagators save fungicide cost and strawberry losses from anthracnose worth $100,000. 150 strawberry growers adopt alternative fumigation methods on 300 acres of fruit production field to improve yield, generating $150,000 additional annual income.

    Performance targets from proposal:

    Two major plant propagators save fungicide cost and strawberry losses from anthracnose worth $100,000. 150 strawberry growers adopt alternative fumigation methods on 300 acres of fruit production field to improve yield, generating $150,000 additional annual income.

    Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the U.S. Department of Agriculture or SARE.