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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Salinas, California » Crop Improvement and Protection Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #401485
Research Project: Disease Management and Improved Detection Systems for Control of Pathogens of Vegetables and Strawberries

Location: Crop Improvement and Protection Research

Title: FW1-resistant varieties with Fusarium wilt in Oxnard, CA

Author
item Henry, Peter

Submitted to: Popular Publication
Publication Type: Popular Publication
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/17/2023
Publication Date: 1/18/2023
Citation: Henry, P.M. 2023. FW1-resistant varieties with Fusarium wilt in Oxnard, CA. Cal Poly Strawberry Center Blog. Available: https://strawberrycenterblog.com/2023/01/18/fw1-resistant-varieties-with-fusarium-wilt-in-oxnard-ca/.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Many strawberry varieties/cultivars are genetically resistant to the Fusarium wilt disease, which is caused by the fungal pathogen Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. fragariae (Fof). For example, Portola, Victor, and San Andreas are Fusarium wilt-resistant varieties from the University of California. These varieties have the same Fusarium wilt resistance gene called Fw1. Until now, this gene was effective against all strains of the Fusarium wilt pathogen, called Fof race 1, in California. The Henry Lab at the USDA-ARS just discovered a strain of Fof that causes disease on varieties with the Fw1 resistance gene (including: Portola, Victor, and San Andreas). This new strain, called Fof race 2, was isolated from diseased plants at a Portola summer-planted field in Oxnard. The distribution of affected plants in the field suggests this Fof race 2 strain was already in the soil and did not arrive with transplants. Furthermore, plants from the same nursery field are healthy in other, nearby areas. Efforts are ongoing to determine if Fof race 2 is present in any other fields in the area and to develop management recommendations for fields infested with race 2.