A fungal disease has been identified in some fall-transplanted strawberry fields in New Jersey. The pathogen, Neopestalotiopsis spp., causes a leaf spot and fruit rot in strawberry. Up until recently, the pathogen was considered a secondary pathogen. However, the disease has been found in strawberry production in FL where leaf, fruit, petiole, crown, and root symptoms were observed, and yield was severely affected. Dieback has been up to 50% in some New Jersey plantings this fall (Fig. 1). Symptoms on infected leaves include brown to tan circular spots (Fig. 2) that under the right environmental conditions will produce numerous black pycnidia (Fig. 3). Fruit infections look similar to anthracnose fruit rot. Growers who have purchased strawberry plants this fall should scout their fields immediately and contact their County Agricultural Agent if suspect plants are found.

For more information on Neopestalotiopsis please see links below from NCSU and FL.

https://strawberries.ces.ncsu.edu/2020/09/a-new-disease-is-emerging-neopestalotiopsis-fruit-rot/

https://vegetablegrowersnews.com/news/neopestalotiopsis-fruit-rot-seen-n-florida-strawberries/

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