By Clint Thompson
California strawberry nurseries have been unaffected by Neopestalotiopsis (neo) disease impacting plants. Phil Brannen, University of Georgia Cooperative Extension fruit disease specialist, hopes it remains that way.
“Out of an abundance of ignorance, I would say, I hope it’s going to be okay. We’ve got to have hope in something,” Brannen said.
Especially following this season’s outbreak in nurseries in Prince Edward Island, Southeast growers need a dependable nursery source where fears over neo are not warranted. As of now, California remains that reliable nursery source.
Brannen discussed neo with Alabama producers during the recent Alabama Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association Conference and Trade Show.
“I know some researchers have taken quite a few samples from California and have yet to find these aggressive strains in California. It could just be they haven’t made it there yet. It’s a long way from Prince Edward Island to California,” Brannen said. “If they were to get it, there’s another question of how much impact would it have because of their dry environment? They generally are just so much drier in their production. Those plants, when they’re drier, are going to be cleaner.
“It’s possible you would produce, from tips from California, a plant that is still not going to have it. That would be my hope, that even if they do get it, we could still get plants out of California. It’s still somewhat remains to be seen.”
Disease Background
Neopestalotiopsis has been a danger to strawberry plants every year since it was first discovered during the 2018–19 season on five farms in Florida. Its concern this year stemmed from its presence in plug plants at nursery sources in Canada. The disease’s confirmed presence in plants before they even left nurseries this year left many growers in dire straits.