Factors affecting the occurrence of wilt of strawberry caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. fragariae in Korea

The occurrence of Fusarium wilt in strawberry fields in Korea was assessed from 2001 to 2003. Fusarium wilt was found from June to August in nursery beds, from September to October after planting in production beds, and from January to March during harvest. The symptoms seen were root rots, discolored vascular tissue in the crown and deformation and yellowing of central leaflets. The disease occurred in up to 30％ of plants in 37 of 214 fields surveyed. Fusarium of sporum Schlecht. ex Fr. f. sp. fragariae was frequently isolated from cvs. Dochiodome, Maehyang, Redpearl, Samaberry and Akihime. Factors affecting the occurrence of Fusarium wilt were investigated; infested soils had high salt concentrations, low pH, OM, average P2O5 and exchangeable. Fusarium wilt was more frequent following conventional basal fertilization than after non-nitrogen basal fertilization and more frequent following the use of NH4-N than after NO3-N.