Neopestalotiopsis species

Fungal Disease

Neopestalotiopsis species

Fungal Disease

Neopestalotiopsis species

Fungal Disease

Pestalotia leaf spot and fruit rot, caused by Neopestalotiopsis species, are common fungal diseases that affect strawberry plants. These diseases impact both the foliage and fruit, leading to potential yield losses, especially under favorable conditions such as extended rain and warm temperatures.

Symptoms on Leaves:

• Initial symptoms appear as light-to-dark-brown spots of various sizes, irregularly distributed on infected leaves.
• Young spots are circular but become irregular and enlarge, especially near the leaf margins.
• As the disease progresses, the spots merge and cover larger areas of the leaf.
• A distinguishing feature is the presence of black spore masses in the tan centers of older spots, particularly under humid conditions. These black spore masses help differentiate Pestalotia from other diseases like leaf blotch, caused by Gnomonia comari.

Symptoms on Fruit:

• Fruit symptoms can resemble anthracnose fruit rot (AFR). Initially, the rot appears as dry, light-tan, slightly sunken lesions 2-4 mm in diameter.
• Over time, the lesions expand, potentially covering the entire fruit.
• Unlike AFR, Pestalotia lesions are eventually covered by dark fruiting bodies (acervuli) that produce shiny black spores in liquid droplets.

Disease Spread and Favorable Conditions: The fungus spreads via water and farm operations. Rain events and temperatures above 10°C, with an optimum range between 25-30°C, promote disease development. When these conditions persist, the disease can quickly escalate into an epidemic, making control difficult.