Verticillium wilt of strawberries

Strawberry verticillium blight (Verticillium dahliae) is a soil-borne disease that occurs on strawberries.

The fungus attacks the root system of strawberries and develops in the blood vessels, causing them to become blocked, hence the symptoms of wilting. On a cross section of the strawberry crown, dark spots or stripes are visible - infected, damaged vessels. The root system is affected by root hairs and mechanical damage. The fungus can also infect the above-ground parts of strawberry plants, causing necrotic spots, mainly affecting seedlings.

Verticillium wilt is more common in fields and gardens where host plants for the disease have been grown, such as raspberries, cucumbers, tomatoes, cauliflower, potatoes and alfalfa. To avoid infection with Verticillium wilt, use proven soil substrates where the occurrence of microsclerotia of the pathogen is impossible. In stressful conditions (physiological drought), it is recommended to use anti-stressors and bioregulators.