strawberry image

Strawberry Diagnostic Key

Integrated Pest Management

Type
Physiological
Fruit Condition
Deformed
Fruit Size
Small
Fruit Texture
Soft
Flower Condition
Distorted, Necrotic
Field Distribution
Uniform, Low areas
Prior Environmental
Temp. below 15°, Temp. between 20° and 32°
Season
Early spring, Pre harvest
Cropping System
Annual plasticulture, Perennial matted row

Problem

Abiotic disorder - frost damage

Symptoms

Healthy flowers with darken dead centers, dead flowers, misshaped friut, dead fruit.

Strawberry flower with brown/black center.

Frost damage strawberry flower.

Rocco D Schiavone

Newly opened flower with brown center.

Flower damaged at popcorn stage.

Rocco D Schiavone

Similar Problems

Boron defficiency, calcium defficiency, thrips.

Additional Information

Visible within 24 hours of frost/freeze event.

Diagnostic Tips

Similar to poor pollination. Open flowers are most vulnerable. Critical temperatures are 30°F for open flowers, 28°F for fruit and 22-27°F for tight flowers.

Corrective Measures

Sanitation and botrytis control spray may be helpful.

Management

Protect flowers/fruit from freeze and frost with overhead irrigation or row covers in spring when plants begin to grow and have more than a few open blooms.

Funding Sources

Funding was provided in part by the National Sustainable Agriculture Program: Sustainable Strawberry Initiative and the following sources.

University of Arkansas Division of Ag logo

Division of Agriculture Research & Extension

None

Walmart logo

Author:

Research Specialist
Horticultural Science
 This NC State FactSheet can be viewed and printed at https://content.ces.ncsu.edu/publication/frost-damage.
NC State Extension