Integrated Management of Strawberry Crown and Root Rot Caused by Fusarium solani in Greenhouse Conditions
Keywords:
Integrated management, Fusarium solani, Trichoderma harzianum, Pseudomonas flaorescens, Plant extractAbstract
The strawberry, or Fragaria x ananassa Duch., is a crop grown extensively around the world, including Kurdistan.
However, the crop is frequently compromised by soil-borne pathogens, particularly the fungal pathogen Fusarium
solani, which causes considerable damage and economic losses. The devastating nature of this disease has not been
adequately controlled by traditional techniques of disease management. This study aimed to integrate multiple control
strategies to mitigate the impact of F. solani on strawberry production. Strawberry samples were collected from the
region, and after the pathogen was isolated, investigations revealed that F. solani was the main culprit causing crown
and root rot of the crop. In a controlled greenhouse environment, eleven individual and combinatory control methods
were tested on potted strawberry plants. Disease severity was assessed and analyzed statistically. The findings revealed a
significant difference in the efficacy of the treatments, with treatments T3 (sumac extract), T4 (Pristine fungicide), and T9
(Gathering Trichoderma harzianum and Pristine) demonstrating superior disease prevention capabilities. Moderate
control was observed with treatments T2 (Trichoderma harzianum) and T5 (Gathering Pseudomonas flaorescens and
Trichoderma harzianum), while T6 (Gathering Pseudomonas flaorescens and sumac extract), T10 (Gathering sumac extract
and Pristine), and T8 (Gathering Pseudomonas flaorescens and Pristine) exhibited minimal effectiveness. These results
are fundamental for developing integrated pest management (IPM) strategies that optimize disease control in strawberry
cultivation, emphasizing sustainable practices that reduce reliance on fungicides. By adopting these integrated methods,
strawberry producers in Kurdistan can enhance crop resilience and sustainability.