Identification of Neopestalotiopsis spp. from Strawberry Leaf, Fruit, and Crown Tissues in North Carolina

Abstract

North Carolina is a leading fresh-market strawberry producer in the southeastern United States, with increasing cultivation driven by consumer demand. In recent years, Neopestalotiopsis-associated diseases have emerged as a major threat to strawberry production, yet limited information is available on their distribution, species diversity, and pathogenic variation in the region. This study investigated the occurrence and characterization of Neopestalotiopsis species associated with strawberry crown rot samples submitted to the North Carolina State University Plant Disease and Insect Clinic during 2023–2024. Crowns of diseased plants collected from 27 counties, representing 17 cultivars, were cultured. Neopestalotiopsis was the predominant genus (n = 114), represented by N. hispanica (n = 67), species from the N. rosae complex (n = 44), N. clavispora (n = 1), N. scalabiensis (n = 1), and N. longiappendiculata (n = 1). Greenhouse pathogenicity assays confirmed that the tested Neopestalotiopsis isolates were able to cause disease on the strawberry cultivar ‘Fresca’. These findings provide the first comprehensive overview of Neopestalotiopsis species associated with strawberry crown rot in North Carolina and highlight their genetic and pathogenic diversity, contributing to improved understanding and management of this emerging disease.