Soil-borne Disease Management in Organic Strawberries

If you’re growing strawberries as part of your organic operation, you may deal with soil-borne pathogens.  Below are several resources, assembled with assistance from Assistant Cooperative Extension Specialist in Organic Production, Joji Muramoto.  For more information or to ask about these and other practices in organic strawberry production, contact Joji at: joji@ucsc.edu.

Factsheet on three main diseases affecting strawberries and appropriate treatments:  (from UCCE Marin Organic Production Field Day with Joji Muramoto)

https://ucanr.edu/sites/Grown_in_Marin/files/320318.pdf

Labs for identification of pathogens in organic strawberries

• Shashika S. Hewavitharana, Cal Poly SLO; shewavit@calpoly.edu; 805-756-2856, submittal form – FREE TESTING
• CSP Labs (Pleasant Grove, CA)
• Foundation Plant Services, UC Davis
• TriCal Diagnostics (Hollister, CA)

Resources for Anaerobic Soil Disinfestation (ASD)

• Field trials on ASD and methods to optimize its efficacy
• Presentation on ASD for suppression of Verticillium Dahliae
• Oxygen-sensitive probe (OSP) for measuring whether you are maintaining a suitably anaerobic environment (link to more information, vendor, etc.)
• Other equipment necessary to employ ASD and monitor its efficacy
• Sources for rice bran:
  • ____
  • ____

Other resources:

• USDA-ARS Pacific-Area Methyl Bromide Alternatives Program – Strawberry Mgmt Page

Information on ASD and other methods of controlling disease such as biofumigation and steam

• California Strawberry Commission – Pest Management Page

Information on diseases, insect pests, weeds and methods of control

• UC Davis Strawberry Breeding & Research Program

Research publications and presentations along with staff list and additional resources

• UC Davis Office of Research – Strawberry Licensing Program

Descriptions of patented cultivars, licensed nurseries and links to additional strawberry resources

• Crop Economics: Sample Costs to Produce & Harvest Organic Strawberries

UC Davis cost study looking at a hypothetical operation growing 27 acres of organic strawberries along the Central Coast.

• UCCE Marin Workshop: Organic Strawberry Production – 7/18/2002

Overview of 2002 field day organized by UCCE Marin, including summary, speakers and additional resources

• UCCE Marin Workshop: Organic Production Field Day – 1/16/2020

Overview of 2020 field day visiting organic vegetable and fruit operations in Marin and Sonoma Counties with Assistant CE Specialist in Organic Production, Joji Muramoto