Response of Strawberry Black Root Rot to Abiotic and Biotic Soil Factors

Abstract

Black root rot is a strawberry disease caused by a community of soil-dwelling organisms including Rhizoctonia fragariae, Pratylenchus penetrans, and Pythium spp. Abiotic soil conditions such as texture, organic matter, temperature, and nutrients impact the development and severity of this disease, as do biotic soil characteristics including the presence of nematodes and fungi. A better understanding of how these abiotic and biotic soil factors influence black root rot is necessitated by the phase-out of methyl bromide, which has traditionally been the primary tool for controlling this disease. Numerous studies contribute to our knowledge of black root rot, and these investigations are supplemented by information from related plant systems and pathogens.