Resistance of Strawberry Cultivars and Advanced Selections to Anthracnose and Botrytis Fruit Rots

Strawberry (Fragaria xananassa Duch.) cultivars and advanced selections were evaluated for resistance to anthracnose fruit rot (caused by Colletotrichum acutatum) and botrytis fruit rot (caused by Botrytis cinerea) in field trials in west-central Florida during the 2004-05, 2006-07, and 2007-08 seasons. Fruit were harvested twice weekly and anthracnose and botrytis fruit rot incidence were evaluated each season. The incidence of anthracnose fruit rot ranged from 1% to 10% in 2004-05, <1% to 9% in 2006-07, and 1% to 54% in 2007-08. For anthracnose, 'Sweet Charlie', 'Ruby Gem', `Florida Elyana', and `Florida Radiance' were the most resistant cultivars tested; 'Strawberry Festival' and advanced selection 99-117 were intermediate in susceptibility; and 'Albion', 'Camarosa', 'Camino Real', 'Ventana', 'Candonga', and 'Treasure' were susceptible/highly susceptible. The incidence of botrytis fruit rot ranged from 5% to 38% in 2004-05, 0.3% to 8% in 2006-07, and 1% to 6% in 2007-08. Assessment of cultivars for resistance to botrytis fruit rot was more difficult due to low disease incidence. However, 'Camarosa', 'Florida Radiance', 'Florida Elyana', and advanced selections 99-117 and 99-164 showed good levels of resistance, whereas 'Camino Real', 'Ventana', 'Treasure', 'Candonga', 'Strawberry Festival', and 'Sweet Charlie' were more susceptible.