Crown and Root Rot of Strawberry Caused by Neopestalotiopsis clavispora in Korea

Abstract

The occurrence of the crown and root rot on strawberry (Fragaria×ananassa Duch.) has been reported in greenhouses in Sancheong and Hamyang, Gyeongnam province, Korea in June, 2019. The infected plants showed browning rot of the inner crown and root, causing delayed development, lack of growth, and poor rooting. The browning rot of the inner crown and root can sometimes lead to wilting and collapsing of plants. Fungi were isolated from the symptomatic root and crown. Based on the results of morphological and phylogenetic analyses, the causal agent of the disease was identified to be Neopestalotiopsis clavispora. The fungal isolates were then used for inoculation into strawberry plants to determine the causal agent of the crown and root rot as per Koch's postulates. The inoculated strawberry plants showed the same symptoms as the originally infected plants, and the fungal pathogen re-isolated from the lesions showed the same morphological characteristics as the original pathogen. This is the first report on the occurrence of crown and root rot on strawberry (Fragaria×ananassa Duch.) caused by N. clavispora in Korea. ? 2019 THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF MYCOLOGY.