2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38
Late blight, or leathery rot, occurs quite often on strawberries. This attack attacks mainly berries (and at any stage of their development), but sometimes it can cover flowers. And if the development of the disease is accompanied by excess rainfall throughout May, June and July, the loss of the yield of fragrant berries can be very significant. And the quality of the affected berries deteriorates significantly. Therefore, if late blight rot is detected on strawberry beds, decisive action should be taken immediately
A few words about the disease
On green berries attacked by late blight rot, the color of the infected areas can vary from green shades to dark brown. Gradually, as the harmful misfortune develops, the berries turn brown entirely. As a rule, they are characterized by a rather coarse texture.
On ripe berries, it is much more difficult to diagnose late blight rot. The color of fully ripe berries, as a rule, changes very slightly. Only occasionally can the berries turn brownish or dark purple.
Infected ripe berries are usually much softer to the touch than ripe, healthy berries. And if an infected berry is cut into two parts, you can notice a significant darkening of the system of water supply capillaries (such capillaries are connected to each seed). At later stages of the development of the disease, ripe berries become tough. Their skin also hardens noticeably. Occasionally, on the surface of berries attacked by a malicious scourge, you can see an unpleasant white mold. And after some time, the affected berries dry out, turning into shriveled hard mummies.
Berries attacked by late blight rot are characterized by an unpleasant taste and smell. At the same time, even tissues not covered by ailment differ on such berries with a bitter taste. At harvest time, these berries are difficult to distinguish from completely healthy ones, and therefore they also go to the cherished basket. And then jelly or jam cooked from them can unpleasantly surprise you with a characteristic bitter aftertaste.
The causative agent of the destructive misfortune is the pathogenic fungus Phytophthora cactorum, which hibernates in mummified infected berries in the form of oospores (in other words, thick-walled spores).
Most often, the development of late blight rot can be observed in poorly drained areas where water periodically stagnates. Also, a dangerous ailment can develop in the case of direct contact of the berries with the soil. And the peak in the development of a harmful scourge usually falls on the end of June - the beginning of July.
How to fight
The soil in the areas intended for planting strawberries should be well drained and have good air circulation. Also, the areas should be well lit by the sun - shaded areas should be avoided in every possible way, since direct sunlight is very important for strawberries.
To avoid direct contact with the soil, strawberries should be mulched with garden straw. You can use another suitable mulch option. It is equally important to maintain the proper distance when planting strawberry bushes, as well as carefully observe the timing of fertilization. Excessive use of nitrogen-containing fertilizers should also be abandoned, since they can cause excessive thickening of the leaves.
Ripening berries need to be picked regularly. As a rule, they do this at the very beginning of the day, as soon as the strawberry bushes dry out from the dew. And all diseased berries seen on the beds should be removed without fail.
Fungicidal preparations are allowed to be used only in the most extreme case, when the infection of strawberry plantings with late blight rot is too great. For spraying, drugs such as Quadris, Ridomil and Metaxil are usually used. In this case, it is advisable to keep within with treatments before flowering.
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