Devastating Strawberry Disease a Big Concern for Nursery Growers
August 23, 2024 
Neopestalotiopsis leaf spot symptoms on strawberry plantings.
Photo by Bill Cline, NC State Extension
An elevated threat of Neopestalotiopsis fruit rot and leaf spot is causing nursery operators in the Southeast U.S. to “sound the alarms.” Infected strawberry tips supposedly passed through from Prince Edward Island are the root cause of concern, according to a related news alert authored by Phil Brannen, Professor in the Plant Pathology Department at the University of Georgia.
Brannen writes: “One of the major nurseries that provides tips sent out a letter on Aug. 19, 2024 associated with the problem, and other nurseries are following suit. They are basically cancelling orders (and in many cases refunding the deposit) or telling plug plant producers and farmers to take plants at their own risk – no reimbursements for bad or infected plants delivered this year.
“The disease levels currently observed in nurseries, as well as these limitations on accepted liability, will likely impact the supply of tips and therefore plug plants for many strawberry producers. As far as we are aware, this is the first year that there has appeared to be a direct and immediate link to Prince Edward Island, and that is a major concern for the industry as we move forward. With that said, we have to do the best we can with the hand we have been dealt.”
Brannen continues further: “If a producer opts to receive plug plants from suspect nurseries, those with known Neopestalotiopsis-infected plants, they will need to cull any plants that appear unhealthy when they arrive. Unless a producer receives plants from a region that does not have Neopestalotiopsis issues yet (e.g., California), all producers should assume that the plants are coming in with the pathogen – even if the plants look clean and healthy.”
In addition, he advises an aggressive spray program will be necessary from the time of transplanting to combat potential spread of this disease.
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The Neopestalotiopsis species was first reported to cause damage in strawberry fields in Florida in 2019 and 2020. It has since been observed in most southeastern states, Brannen notes.
For more on this strawberry disease, continue reading at site.extension.uga.edu.
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