Strawberry diseases and ways to combat them

Strawberries are a valuable and healthy berry with rich taste and a vitamin-mineral complex. There are practically no gardeners who do not grow it on their plot. And although this berry is not as capricious as others, it still requires proper care. It mainly consists of methods of prevention against strawberry diseases and ways to combat them. These measures affect the lifespan of the plant, the quality and quantity of the harvest. That is why you need to know the methods of proper plant care and the types of various diseases that affect strawberries.

Almost all gardeners encounter one or another strawberry disease, so it is much more effective to prevent the disease than to then fight long and hard for the survival of the variety. In many ways, plant health depends on the quality of seedlings. If untested or unfamiliar material is used, then most likely it is already prone to many diseases.

If reproduction occurred by means of a mustache and the mother bushes were affected by various diseases, then the new seedlings will suffer the same fate. It is necessary to purchase only high-quality seedlings in which you are absolutely confident.

The variety must be correctly selected in relation to climatic conditions, soil characteristics and other characteristics. Before planting seedlings, it is necessary to fumigate the soil in advance, if necessary. When growing strawberries, it is necessary to protect them from pests and weeds. After harvesting, it is necessary to thin out the plants. It is important to remember that strawberries do not like to grow in one place for a long time. After 3-4 years, it is advisable to replant it or replace it with new seedlings. In addition, it is recommended to carry out treatment with special chemicals several times a season.

Signs of strawberry disease

You can notice that a plant is sick with something by its leaves. Quite often they become covered with spots, the color of which may indicate the cause of the disease. These may be light spots, red, brown or rust colored. The presence of such spots indicates damage to the plant and requires immediate treatment.

Signs of strawberry disease may vary, but always pay attention to the general condition of the plant. If the strawberry begins to wilt and its leaves quickly wither and turn brown, this means that the disease is progressing. If treatment is not started immediately, the plant will tend to the ground and die completely in a couple of months.

Treatment often has to be carried out in isolation. Sick strawberries are dug up and placed in a confined space, where treatment is carried out. Otherwise, the disease may spread to other seedlings and it will be much more difficult to cure. If it is impossible to save the plant, it must be removed immediately.

If strawberries wilt regularly year after year, the selected varieties are probably not suitable for the quality of the soil on the site. In this case, it is recommended to choose varieties with maximum resistance to various diseases.

Sometimes a plant may not show the presence of a disease, and you can only find out about it when the first flowers begin to form. They begin to deform and become stained. This means that the strawberries are affected by rot. If berries do form, the still green fruits become covered with brown spots. The berries become stale and dry out. The same thing happens with ripe fruits, which lose their sweetness, become bitter and tasteless.

Strawberry viral diseases

Strawberries are often susceptible to viral diseases that are spread through insects in the soil or various nematodes. The danger is that viruses can destroy the plant or cause serious changes in it, which will affect its appearance and the quality of the fruit.

It is necessary to remember that the proximity of strawberries to other crops, such as tomatoes, cucumbers, potatoes, raspberries and others is fraught with the possibility of contracting viral diseases from them. Since these crops can suffer from common viral infections, they should not be planted next to or in a place where these plants were previously grown.

The most common viral diseases of strawberries:

Mottling. Spread mainly by aphids. There is a decrease in yield and a decrease in berry size.
Bordering of veins. It appears as a yellow border on the main and lateral veins. The plant slows down overall growth, growth of mustaches and berries. The virus is transmitted by aphids.
Dwarfism. Reduction in height by half of the norm, developmental delay. The disease is spread by aphids.
Wrinkling of leaves. The number of leaves decreases, wrinkles and spots appear on their surface. Growth and productivity are sharply reduced. The virus is transmitted by aphids.
Rezuha mosaic. The leaves are mosaic and yellowing. The leaves curl and the flower stalks do not develop. The overall growth of the plant decreases. The virus is transmitted by aphids.
Latent ring spot. The virus causes mottling on the leaves and the death of the plant. Spread by aphids.

There is a method for detecting viral diseases in plants. To do this, it is necessary to plant the plant together with the indicator one, making small cuts on their tendrils and securing them together with ordinary plastic film. Signs of the disease will be visible within a couple of weeks.

Viral pathogens remain active during vegetative propagation, so high-quality planting material guarantees healthy plants and a good harvest. All measures to combat viral diseases are of an agrotechnical nature.

It is necessary to check the soil for the presence of pathogens. If any, it is disinfected by thermal or chemical methods. Most pathogenic insects die at temperatures up to 60°C, but viruses begin to be destroyed at temperatures of 100°C and above. It is necessary to cultivate the soil for at least 30 minutes. Heating can be either artificial or natural.

In the south, where the soil temperature itself can rise to the desired level, you can cover the soil surface with a film for the highest heating. Against pathogens of viral diseases — nematodes, Tiazon or Carbothion can be used at a soil depth of about 15 cm and a temperature of 100°C. After which you need to water the treated area. Next, treatment is necessary before the start of the growing season in compliance with the necessary protective measures.

To destroy aphids, strawberries are sprayed with an infusion of hogweed, mustard, dope or onion. You can use an infusion of red hot pepper or pine needles. All products used are harmless to humans. They do not accumulate in plants and fruits and are not addictive to insects.

Fungal diseases of strawberries

Fungal diseases are no less dangerous and cause significant inconvenience to both the plants themselves and gardeners. The most common fungal diseases of strawberries:

Anthracnose. Gray spots with a purple border appear throughout the plant. With a prolonged course of the disease, the spots merge, which leads to the death of the shoots. The disease develops due to strong humidity.

White rot. The leaves turn white and dry out. The berries rot, covered with white fluff. The disease is less common in greenhouses.
Grey rot. A gray coating appears on the leaves and berries.
Black rot. A colorless coating forms on the berries, they lose their taste and become watery. Then the plaque turns black.
Rhizoctoniosis. This is a black root rot that attacks young roots. Black spots appear on them, the structure of the roots becomes brittle. Then the rot rises higher - to the petioles and rosettes.
White spotting. The fungus appears on the leaves and spreads to peduncles, stalks and cuttings. Brown spots form with a white center, which disappears over time.
Brown spot. Brown spots appear on the leaves, which cover the entire leaf.
Brown spotting. The disease starts from the leaves and spreads to the berries. The spots on the leaves are initially brown in color, gradually they darken and spread over the entire leaf.
Powdery mildew. A common disease in greenhouse conditions. The leaves become covered with a fluffy coating and stop their development.
Gray mold. The most common disease of strawberries. The berries become brown, soft, and have a gray coating on them.

To combat diseases, chemical methods are used that are applicable to each individual disease.

Rare dangerous strawberry diseases

These diseases are not as common as the most common ones, but they cause much more harm.

Bacterial burn. Appears as spots on the leaves. Infection can occur from wild trees located nearby. Plants are treated with antibiotics. If it was not possible to save the strawberries and the disease progresses, the bushes are destroyed.
Bacterial root cancer. The bacterium resides in any part of the plant for an unlimited time and, under favorable conditions, affects the root system. The impetus for this is often low temperatures and mechanical damage.
Greening of the petals. A very rare disease that affects the petals. Deformed petals turn pink, then green. Many become leaves, and flowers lose their ability to bear fruit.

Diseases and pests are a common problem for gardeners. To reduce this nuisance to a minimum, you need to buy only healthy seedlings, follow all the rules of care and carry out preventive treatment.