By Clint Thompson
Plant source remains the best way for Southeast strawberry producers to manage neopestalotiopsis (Neo).
Growers who obtained plants from nurseries with histories of Neo contamination have observed the disease this year. Those producers who got plants from disease-free nurseries out west have enjoyed Neo-free production seasons, says Phil Brannen, University of Georgia (UGA) Cooperative Extension fruit disease specialist.
“We do have some producers who do have a substantial amount of Neopestalotiopsis starting out this year just because of nursery sources that were contaminated with the fungus. It’s still out there. We have some people that got their plants from California, Idaho or out west. There’s very limited, if any, neopestalotiopsis at all,” Brannen said. “But we do have some folks who have a good bit of it. We’ll have to see how that progresses this spring. I hope it won’t be horribly aggressive, but we also know that it can.”
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. The disease’s initial discovery was attributed to one nursery source in North Carolina. More than 20 farms experienced the disease during the 2019–20 season after it was attributed to two nursery sources early in the season in North Carolina and Canada.
“The nurseries have been as upfront and helpful as they can be to the farmers. I feel sorry for the nurseries that have had it and it’s been very difficult on nurseries and difficult on our strawberry producers. I hope they can clean it up. I hope they can do well,” Brannen said. “I don’t like telling my farmers to go somewhere different to get their plants. I’ve got to be honest. I tell the farmers this is what I would do, and I would try to find a clean source of plants to make sure they’re clean.”
The disease can lead to severe leaf spotting and blighting under favorable weather conditions, specifically during extended periods of wetness.