Identification of Fungi Associated with Strawberry Fruits Taken from Sulaimani Markets and their In Vitro Management Techniques

Abstract

Fruit samples of strawberry were collected from local markets in Sulaimani Governorate/Iraq which they are imported from Turkey and Iran.Two different methods for identifying the fungi were used; morphologically, depending on some characteristic such as the shape of the spores, the color and the general shape of the fungus. Also to confirm the diagnosis fungal, molecular method was used. The mycotic observations showed that there were nine distinct fungi. The molecular data was blasted at NCBI checked and the identification rate was between 97-100%. The diagnosed fungi were (Alternaria alternate, Aspergillus niger, Botrytis cinerea, Cladosporium cladosporioides, Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. fragariae, Nigrospora sphaerica, Penicillium raistrickii, Penicillium griseofulvum and Rhizopus stolonifer). The highest infestation percent was recorded for A. niger 26.02%, while the lowest was for Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. fragariae 1.08%, pathogenicity test was performed for the isolated fungi and revealed that all of the fungi were pathogenic more than 90%. Samples from local markets showed no significant differences in disease incidence and the severity of the disease. For management of the fungi associated with strawberries, different method have been used in vitro (rosemary and pomegranate) plant extracts, salicylic acid (SA), potassium metabisulphite (KMS) and two fungicides. 1% and 2% rosemary plant extracts gave the highest inhibition of (P. griseofulvum) also, pomegranate peel extract 4% had a significant effect on (N. sphaerica). In addition SA were effective on all fungi and KMS had the same as the fungi excepted (R. stolonifera) compared to control treatment.