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Dactylonectria torresensis as the Main Component of the Black Root Rot Complex of Strawberries and Raspberries in Northern Germany

Dactylonectria torresensis als wichtigste Komponente der Schwarzen Wurzelfäule an Erdbeeren und Himbeeren in Norddeutschland

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Abstract

In a long-term survey of black root rot of strawberries and raspberries in Northern Germany in 2007–2014, fungi with and without Cylindrocarpon-like anamorphs were isolated as potential pathogens. Dactylonectria torresensis was the most common species, being isolated from 18% of strawberry roots obtained from nursery plants and 37% of roots from production fields, as well as 21% and 29% (respectively) of raspberry roots. Less frequently isolated fungi with Cylindrocarpon-like anamorphs included Ilyonectria crassa, Ilyonectria sp. 2, I. pseudodestructans, I. robusta, C. obtusisporium and Ilyonectria sp. 1. Severe disease symptoms were reproduced by artificial inoculation of strawberries with D. torresensis, I. crassa and Ilyonectria sp. 2, milder symptoms with C. obtusisporium. A wide range of other root-pathogenic fungi such as Fusarium oxysporum, Verticillium dahliae, Ceratobasidium fragariae, Gnomoniopsis fructicola, Hainesia lythri, and species of Cadophora, Leptodontidium, Pythium, Phytophthora, Plectosporella, Pestalotiopsis and Truncatella were either isolated only sporadically or were not associated with black root rot symptoms, suggesting that they did not play any major role in this disease in Northern Germany. Visible disease symptoms and high frequencies of D. torresensis isolations in many batches of nursery plants indicated that these may comprise a major source of contamination of production fields. The previously unrecognised prominence of D. torresensis resolves a long-standing puzzle concerning the cause of the ongoing black root rot epidemic in Northern German strawberry and raspberry production.

Zusammenfassung

In einer Langzeitstudie der Schwarzen Wurzelfäule an Erdbeeren und Himbeeren in Norddeutschland von 2007 bis 2014 wurden Pilze mit und ohne Cylindrocarpon-Sporenstadien als potentielle Krankheitserreger isoliert. Die häufigste Art, Dactylonectria torresensis, wurde aus 18 % der Wurzeln von Erdbeer-Jungpflanzen sowie aus 37 % der Wurzeln von Pflanzen aus Produktionsanlagen isoliert. An Himbeeren betrugen die entsprechenden Werte 21 % und 29 %. Weitere Pilze mit Cylindrocarpon-ähnlichen Konidienstadien waren Ilyonectria crassa, Ilyonectria sp. 2, I. pseudodestructans, I. robusta, C. obtusisporium und Ilyonectria sp. 1. Schwere Symptome der Schwarzen Wurzelfäule wurden durch künstliche Inokulation gesunder Erdbeerpflanzen mit D. torresensis, I. crassa und Ilyonectria sp. 2 reproduziert, mildere Symptome mit C. obtusisporium. Andere pathogene Pilze wie Fusarium oxysporum, Verticillium dahliae, Ceratobasidium fragariae, Gnomoniopsis fructicola, Hainesia lythri sowie Arten von Cadophora, Leptodontidium, Pythium, Phytophthora, Plectosporella, Pestalotiopsis und Truncatella wurden entweder nur sporadisch isoliert oder waren nicht mit den Krankheitssymptomen assoziiert, so dass kein ursächlicher Zusammenhang mit der Schwarzen Wurzelfäule in Norddeutschland angenommen werden kann. Sichtbare Krankheitssymptome sowie der häufige Nachweis von D. torresensis in Vermehrerware deuteten auf die Ausbreitung der Krankheit über diese Route hin. Die bislang nicht beschriebene Rolle von D. torresensis beantwortet lange bestehende Fragen zur Ursache der aktuellen Epidemie der Schwarzen Wurzelfäule in der norddeutschen Erdbeer- und Himbeerproduktion.

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Acknowledgements

We are grateful to Steffi Kutz and Andrea Lutze (Obstbauversuchsring des Alten Landes) for laboratory assistance, and to several strawberry and raspberry producers who funded part of this work.

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  1. Esteburg Fruit Research and Advisory Centre, Moorende 53, 21635, Jork, Germany

    Roland W. S. Weber & Alfred-Peter Entrop

  2. Department of Food Science, Aarhus University, Kirstinebjergvej 10, 5792, Årslev, Denmark

    Roland W. S. Weber

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  1. Roland W. S. Weber
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Correspondence to Roland W. S. Weber.

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R.W.S. Weber and A.-P. Entrop declare that they have no competing interests.

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Weber, R.W.S., Entrop, AP. Dactylonectria torresensis as the Main Component of the Black Root Rot Complex of Strawberries and Raspberries in Northern Germany. Erwerbs-Obstbau 59, 157–169 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10341-017-0343-9

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