Abstract
Previously, Colletotrichum spp. has been considered a warmer climate pathogen as these meteorological conditions are most optimal for its development. However, climate change is fostering the spread of plant disease and complicating the ability to predict meteorological conditions for disease development. This study aims to determine meteorological conditions for anthracnose development, evaluate the susceptibility of different strawberry cultivars and detect the distribution of strawberry pathogens in temperate climate conditions. The experiment was carried out in the Institute of Horticulture Lithuanian Research Centre for Agriculture and Forestry (LAMMC) in Lithuania during the 2018–2019 strawberry growing season. To evaluate the contamination levels (fungal and bacterial pathogens) of strawberry plant parts, soil and susceptibility to Colletotrichumacutatum, samples were collected at four different locations in Lithuania from eleven cultivars. The results revealed that Colletotrichum spp. was not equally prevalent in the soil at all strawberry farms tested. The evaluation indicated that strawberry leaves and stems were similarly contaminated with pathogenic fungi. The most frequently isolated fungi from the leaves and stems were Mycosphaerella spp., Alternaria spp., Fusarium spp., Colletotrichum spp., Phytophthora spp., and Botrytis spp. Our study confirmed that the response of cultivar susceptibility to C. acutatum was unequal. The most suitable temperature for C.acutatum development was 25 °C. Monitoring of meteorological conditions, evaluation of inoculum source and appropriate cultivar selection could reduce or avoid yield losses caused by the C. acutatum.
Highlights
Strawberries are one of the most popular dessert berries in the world due to their pleasant taste and aroma, as well as the fact that they contain many useful bioactive components [1]
We evaluated the meteorological conditions in a temperate climate for C. acutatum development
Our data confirmed the results of Feil et al [5] that C. acutatum mycelium was able to grow at 5 and 10 ◦ C. He et al [15] observed that colony growth was fastest in the temperature range of 25–28 ◦ C; we found that the optimal temperature for C. acutatum development was between
Summary
Strawberries are one of the most popular dessert berries in the world due to their pleasant taste and aroma, as well as the fact that they contain many useful bioactive components [1]. Strawberry is the most important small fruit crop in Lithuania, produced on 560 hectares. With the growing consumption of fresh fruit and berries, it is becoming increasingly important to expand the range and to extend the growing season of berries such as strawberries. As in other parts of the world, the strawberry business is expanding in Lithuania. New varieties are being introduced from warmer climate zones. Strawberry growing is expanding outdoors, and in greenhouses
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