Management of Up-and-Coming Strawberry Diseases in the Northeastern United States

Описание: In this webinar, Dr. Nathaniel Westrick (Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station) joins us to break down emerging and resurging strawberry diseases impacting growers across the Northeast.

While familiar issues like gray mold, leaf spot, leaf scorch, and powdery mildew remain manageable with strong spray programs, this talk focuses on the tougher challenges growers are facing today:

🍓 Anthracnose Crown Rot (ACR) – A newly confirmed threat in New England capable of causing severe plant mortality. Dr. Westrick shares research on pathogen identification, fungicide resistance, effective pre-plant dip strategies (including Switch + plant defense elicitors), varietal tolerance, and management considerations such as avoiding post-harvest renovation in infected fields.

🌱 Black Root Rot – The long-standing “800-pound gorilla” of Northeast strawberry production. Learn how this complex disease (involving nematodes, fungi, and oomycetes) has resurged following extreme weather events and nursery movement. The session covers varietal vigor vs. yield, rotation strategies (including why some cover crops can make problems worse), soil health, drainage, and newer non-fumigant chemical options.

🧪 Neopestalotiopsis – A newer pathogen generating industry concern. Dr. Westrick provides regional context and practical management considerations for Northeast growers.

Key themes include:

The impact of plant movement and nursery sourcing on pathogen spread

Fungicide resistance (including reduced efficacy of certain QoI products)

The importance of varietal selection and plant vigor

Diagnostics and targeted IPM strategies

When cultural practices (like renovation or irrigation management) may unintentionally worsen disease

This research-based session offers practical, field-ready recommendations for commercial strawberry growers navigating evolving disease pressures in the Northeast.