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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Salinas, California » Crop Improvement and Protection Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #417456
Research Project: Disease Management and Improved Detection Systems for Control of Pathogens of Vegetables and Strawberries

Location: Crop Improvement and Protection Research

Title: Effect of abiotic stresses on Macrophomina root rot development in California Strawberry

Author
item GUTIERREZ, MARINA - California Polytechnic State University
item Henry, Peter
item DAUGOVISH, OLEG - University Of California - Cooperative Extension Service
item BISCARO, ANDRE - University Of California - Cooperative Extension Service
item BLAUER, KYLE - California Polytechnic State University
item HEWAVITHARANA, S - California Polytechnic State University
item HOLMES, G - California Polytechnic State University

Submitted to: American Phytopathological Society Annual Meeting
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/20/2024
Publication Date: 7/27/2024
Citation: Gutierrez, M.J., Henry, P.M., Daugovish, O., Biscaro, A.S., Blauer, K.A., Hewavitharana, S.S., Holmes, G.J. 2024. Effect of abiotic stresses on Macrophomina root rot development in California strawberry. American Phytopathological Society Annual Meeting, July 27-30, 2024, Memphis, Tennessee.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: California strawberry growers lost an effective tool against diseases and pests with the ban of the soil fumigant methyl bromide, marking the emergence of rising yield losses due to the soilborne pathogen Macrophomina phaseolina. Warnings of increasing restrictions on chemical controls reveal the importance of studying Macrophomina root rot development with the goal of applying acquired information towards management solutions. Pathogenicity is highly dependent on environmental factors, specifically abiotic stressors such as elevated soil salinity and drought, which is why the pathogen is often described as an opportunistic parasite. A field experiment evaluating strawberry cultivars ‘Sweet Ann’ and ‘Fronteras’ is currently underway at Cal Poly State University San Luis Obispo and will continue through September 2024. Strawberry cultivars were artificially inoculated with M. phaseolina and will be exposed to water stress and three different types of salinity stress, including elevated levels of chloride, sodium adsorption ratio, and sulfate. Water-powered dilution pumps are used to incorporate concentrated salt solutions into irrigation water at a 1:100 ratio. Data assessing the correlation between stress type and plant mortality will be collected and presented. This experiment has the potential to improve our understanding of how abiotic factors contribute to the development of M. phaseolina, aiding in the identification of strategies that California strawberry growers can utilize to mitigate disease severity.