Strawberry Disease Recommendations

Written by

Phil Brannen

March 27, 2020

Guido Schnabel (Clemson University) just provided his recommendations for the remainder of the season concerning strawberry disease spray programs. See the strawberry IPM guide at www.smallfruits.org to supplement this information (especially FRAC groups), but I concur with his thoughts as we move forward this season.

Guido writes. “In general, based on 8 years of testing, I recommend to primarily use multisites such as thiram and captan. Save the single sites (regular FRAC code numbers) for when you really need them. Use single sites when infection pressure increases (prior to major rain events (more than 24 hours of rain at mild temperatures). Do not use the same FRAC code twice in a row (resistance gets selected rapidly) and do not use the same FRAC code more than twice a season (if spread out enough 3 applications are okay too). Do not use FRAC1 and FRAC11 for Botrytis control (too many resistance issues). If you are using FRAC7/11 mixtures, I would recommend Merivon and Luna Sensation over Pristine. Pristine has been around for so long that the FRAC 7 component (boscalid) is loosing its efficacy. Switch and Miravis Prime contain fludioxonil (which is currently the heavy hitter of anthracnose and botrytis). Fludioxonil (FRAC 12) should also not be overused. Do not apply any product containing fludioxonil more than 2 to 3 times per season. That in a nutshell is my recommendation.”

Posted in: Uncategorized

Phil Brannen

Phil Brannen is a Professor in the Plant Pathology Department at the University of Georgia. He attended the University of Georgia for his undergraduate degree in Plant Protection and Pest Management, where he also received an M.S. in Plant Pathology, followed by a Ph.D. in Plant Pathology from Auburn University. He has extensive experience with disease management programs in numerous cropping systems. He serves as the extension fruit pathologist for Georgia – conducting research and technology transfer for multiple fruit commodities. His efforts are directed towards developing IPM practices to solve disease issues and technology transfer of disease-management methods to commercial fruit producers. He also teaches the graduate level Field Pathology Course, the History of Plant Diseases and their Impact on Human Societies Course, team-teaches the IPM Course, coordinates the Viticulture and Enology in the Mediterranean Region Course (Cortona, Italy), and guest lectures in numerous other courses throughout the year.