Strawberry Anthracnose: Control Methods and Fungicide Recommendations

A few days ago, with nothing to do, I made a special trip to the agricultural university to pick strawberries. Unexpectedly, while picking, all the large berries had already been picked by others, and only some small ones were left hanging. Even among the large berries, all had developed anthracnose. So how do you control strawberry anthracnose? What fungicide is best to spray?

1. How does strawberry anthracnose occur?

There are many causes of strawberry anthracnose. For example, rising temperatures without timely heat dissipation, rainwater accumulating without timely drainage, continuous cropping on the same land, and planting density that is too high, leading to poor air circulation, as well as failure to clean the garden in time, can all cause strawberry anthracnose. In most cases, it is caused by rising temperatures and increased rainfall without timely heat dissipation and drainage. Generally, the incidence rate is highest in June and July.

2. What are the symptoms of strawberry anthracnose?

Strawberry anthracnose mostly occurs during the seedling-raising period and the early stage after planting. It mainly damages the stems, leaves, petals, and fruits of strawberries. When the disease occurs, it causes many small black spots to appear on the stems, which gradually cause the stems to wither, then spreads to the leaves, causing many oval black spots to appear on the leaves, and finally spreads to the fruits, causing patches of light brown rot that make them inedible. Generally, when anthracnose occurs, it infects other plants, causing the leaves of the whole plant to lose water and droop, and in severe cases, the whole plant dies.

3. How do you control strawberry anthracnose? What fungicide is best to spray?

1. Agricultural control:

(1) Maintain good ventilation: during hot summer weather, uncover the greenhouse film in time so that the garden maintains good air circulation.

(2) Drain in time: after rain, especially after heavy or moderate rain, dig ditches promptly to drain water and prevent water from accumulating in the seedling beds.

(3) Water rationally: when watering, it is best to use drip irrigation in the morning and evening.

(4) Fertilize rationally: apply some phosphorus and potassium fertilizer or organic fertilizer at the appropriate time. Nitrogen fertilizer should not be applied excessively, so as to improve the plants' disease resistance.

(5) Loosen the soil and weed in time: during the strawberry growing period, loosen the soil and weed in time to improve soil aeration and increase soil fertility.

(6) Control density rationally: planting should not be too dense. Generally, a row spacing of about 20cm and a plant spacing of about 25cm is best. If the density is very high, cut the runners of the mother plants and then pull out the mother plants.

(7) Remove leaves in time: during the strawberry growing period, promptly remove dead leaves, diseased leaves, and other leaves that are unfavorable to growth, and gather them in a remote area to be deeply buried or burned.

2. Chemical control:

In the early stage of the disease, spray for control with 75% chlorothalonil wettable powder at 500 times dilution, or 25% azoxystrobin suspension concentrate at 2000 times dilution, or 50% prochloraz wettable powder at 1500 times dilution, or 10% difenoconazole water-dispersible granules at 1500 times dilution, or 70% mancozeb wettable powder at 500 times dilution. Generally, spray once every week for 3 to 4 consecutive sprays. By rotating the use of each fungicide, effective control can be achieved.

The above is a detailed introduction to the causes, symptoms, control methods, and fungicide application methods for strawberry anthracnose. I hope it is helpful to everyone.