Content
Strawberry anthracnose can lead to the death of the entire berry plantation. To cope with the disease, it is necessary to recognize its symptoms in time.
Description of anthracnose with photo
Strawberry anthracnose, or black spot, is a disease caused by the phytopathogenic fungus Colletotrichum acutatum. It appears primarily on the tendrils and upper parts of the stems, leaving oval depressed sores of a red-brown color about 2 mm in diameter. Over time, these spots turn black, grow and merge with each other, the leaves and shoots of the strawberry dry out and die.
During the flowering period of the crop, anthracnose leads to deformation of the ovaries and whitening of the calyxes of the developing fruits. Ripening strawberries are covered with brown marks with a dark border. In dry and hot summers, the berries simply dry out, and in rainy weather a yellow or pinkish mucous coating forms on them, which contains fungal mycelium.
Neglected anthracnose of strawberries sooner or later leads to drying out of the roots and death of the plant
Anthracnose poses a great danger to garden beds and can destroy up to 80% of the crop. In terms of external manifestations, the disease is similar to late blight or verticillium. But it is quite simple to distinguish it - you need to moisten the affected strawberry leaf and place it in an airtight container. If orange-pink mold forms on the plate after 2-3 days, we are talking about anthracnose.
Treatment of strawberry anthracnose with chemicals
Strawberry anthracnose disease responds well to treatment in the early stages. It is customary to use chemicals first; they do not harm the crop, but effectively fight the fungus.
Ridomil Gold
The fungicidal drug contains the active ingredients mancozeb and mefenoxam. Effectively fights anthracnose and prevents re-infection of strawberries; it is not washed off by rain after drying.
To prepare a working solution, you need to dilute 25 g of the drug in 10 liters of water. Spraying is carried out three times per season, the last of which should take place no later than two weeks before harvest.
Ridomil Gold is dangerous for pets and requires careful use
Previkur Energy
The therapeutic effect of the drug is provided by fosetyl aluminum and propamocarb hydrochloride in the composition. To eliminate anthracnose, make a working solution at the rate of 1.5 ml of product per 1 liter of water. It must be used immediately after preparation, since the drug cannot be stored for a long time.
Strawberries should be sprayed with Previkur Energy in the morning or evening in the absence of bright sun at a temperature of about 15-20 °C. The drug quickly destroys pathogenic fungus and also stimulates the growth of bushes.
Previkur Energy is non-toxic to animals and humans
Fundazol
A popular fungicidal agent contains benomyl and is suitable for the prevention and treatment of strawberry anthracnose. To prepare the solution, first 5 g of the drug is diluted in 250 ml of water, and then added to a volume of 5 liters.
Fundazol should be used for spraying twice a season, no later than a couple of weeks before picking berries. It is best to use the drug to prevent anthracnose or when the first symptoms appear. In this case, the fungicide will quickly eliminate the pathogen and will not allow it to seriously harm the strawberries.
Fundazol is dangerous to human health, so spraying is carried out with safety glasses and a respirator
Cuproxat
The drug includes the active ingredient copper sulfate pentahydrate. Gives a positive effect immediately after use, does not harm humans and animals, and protects strawberries from re-infection with anthracnose.
To prepare a fungicidal solution, you need to stir about 50 g of powder in 3 liters of water, and then add to 10 liters. The product is used to spray beds several times a season with breaks of ten days. At the same time, strawberries can be harvested within 3-4 days after the next treatment.
Kuproxat provides strawberries with protection against anthracnose for three weeks
Score
The drug based on difenoconazole is suitable for treating strawberries against anthracnose at a temperature of 15-25 °C. The medicinal solution is made like this: about 3 ml of the product is diluted in a bucket of water and mixed.
The beds need to be sprayed three times at weekly intervals. Typically, the first treatment is carried out in early spring, the second before flowering, and the third after another ten days.The drug penetrates strawberry tissue within two hours after spraying and suppresses the pathogen anthracnose. Full results can usually be achieved after three weeks.
Spraying with Skor additionally increases strawberry productivity
How to treat strawberry anthracnose with folk remedies
You can treat strawberries against black spot in the fall or spring using homemade remedies. Their effectiveness is weaker than that of industrial fungicides, so such products should be used for prevention or in case of mild damage to bushes.
Soda
Baking soda does not cause any harm to strawberries, pollinating insects or humans, but it does inhibit the activity of pathogenic fungi. The spray solution is made as follows:
- Pour 10 liters of lukewarm water into a bucket.
- Pour a glass of soda.
- Stir until the powder dissolves.
The finished product is used once every two weeks to prevent anthracnose and weekly if symptoms are present.
To increase stickiness, you can add a little soap to the soda solution.
Garlic
Regular garlic has good fungicidal properties. A solution based on it can be made according to the following recipe:
- Several peeled cloves are grated.
- 200 g of garlic pulp are poured into 10 liters of water.
- Leave the mixture for a day in a closed bucket in a dark place.
- Strain through cheesecloth to remove sediment.
It is necessary to spray strawberries with the infusion every day for three days in the evenings.
Garlic infusion not only suppresses the anthracnose fungus, but also repels pests from strawberry beds
Iodine
A homemade solution with the addition of iodine has good healing and strengthening properties. They do it like this:
- Rub a bar of laundry soap on a coarse grater.
- Stir 20 g of chips in 10 liters of warm water.
- Add 30 drops of iodine.
- Mix the product again.
It is necessary to spray strawberries with the resulting solution 3-5 times per season at intervals of three days.
Iodine solution serves not only as a medicinal agent for strawberries, but also as a fertilizer.
Dandelions
At the first symptoms of anthracnose, dandelion decoction can be used to treat the disease. It is made according to this recipe:
- Carefully chop 800 g of fresh plant stems.
- Pour 2 liters of water into an enamel pan.
- Boil over low heat for ten minutes.
- Strain the broth and add up to 10 liters.
The product is used for spraying every other day 4-5 times during the season.
Dandelion decoction is recommended to be used simultaneously with industrial fungicides
Boric acid
For anthracnose in strawberries, boric acid has a good effect. The working solution for spraying bushes is made according to the following scheme:
- Stir a large spoonful of copper sulfate into 10 liters of water.
- Add 2 g of iron sulfate and boric acid.
- Add about 10 g of potassium sulfate.
- Mix the components thoroughly.
The product should be used for a single spray. It is carried out in cloudy but dry weather in the morning or after sunset.
Boric acid increases the immunity of strawberries and prevents the re-development of anthracnose
Prevention of anthracnose
It can be almost impossible to cure strawberries from anthracnose in the later stages. It is recommended to pay attention to the prevention of the disease, which allows, in principle, to prevent the development of the disease:
- buy only healthy and strong seedlings from trusted suppliers;
- treat strawberry roots with fungicidal agents before planting in the ground;
- spill the soil in the garden bed with disinfectant solutions to eliminate possible fungus;
- regularly loosen the soil and remove weeds;
- plant strawberry bushes at a distance of about 30 cm from each other so that they receive enough sunlight and oxygen;
- Properly dose watering and avoid waterlogging or drying out of the soil.
As part of prevention, it is recommended to spray the bushes four times with fungicidal agents from early spring until the harvest begins to ripen. With the onset of autumn, it is necessary to remove plant debris from the beds so that fungal spores cannot wait out the winter in fallen leaves and fruit debris.
Strawberry varieties resistant to anthracnose
Strawberry varieties that are initially resistant to this disease are least likely to suffer from anthracnose. Several types are the most popular.
- Zhang Ji. Japanese remontant strawberries produce strong and large conical berries up to 20 g. The variety is very sweet, with a pleasant long aftertaste, suitable for growing in the garden and in greenhouses.
The disadvantage of Zhang Ji strawberries is their softness - the variety is not grown for sale
- Xiang E. Another Japanese variety bears red berries with slightly orange flesh. It has a sweet honey taste and does not wrinkle. It produces crops continuously throughout the summer and into the fall.
Xiang Ye's strawberries are additionally resistant to powdery mildew
- Vikoda. Late non-repairing strawberries ripen in mid-summer and produce large juicy berries up to 40 g in weight. The fruits are dark red, with good density.
Vikoda strawberries are suitable for transportation
When growing varieties with high immunity, it is necessary to continue to pay attention to agricultural technology and disease prevention. If not properly cared for, any strawberry can suffer from fungus.
Conclusion
Strawberry anthracnose develops very quickly and negatively affects yield. The disease can be noticed by its characteristic symptoms; with early treatment, the fungus can usually be managed.
