strawberry image

Strawberry Diagnostic Key

Integrated Pest Management

Type
Physiological
Leaf Condition
Tip burn, Torn or holes, Marginal necrosis
Leaf Color
Blackish/Purple, Black irregular spots
Leaf Location
Entire leaf, Upper surface, Underside, Edge, Young, Mature
Fruit Condition
Deformed
Petioles Condition
Broken
Field Distribution
Uniform, High areas, Edges, Localized
Prior Environmental
Wind, Thunderstorm
Season
Early spring, Pre harvest

Problem

Wind damage.

Symptoms

Broken petioles, dark discolored areas on outer leaves, abrasion on leaves and fruit from windblown sand.

Normal strawberry leaves with black areas.

Strawberry leaves with black areas where row cover rubbed during wind.

Rocco D Schiavone

Similar Problems

Cold injury of foilage may occur at the same time if temperatures are very low.

Additional Information

Proceeded by high wind events usually in the early spring with or without row cover.

Diagnostic Tips

When row covers are used damage is most severe on downwind areas where covers are loose and flapping.

Corrective Measures

Be sure row covers are secured to prevent flapping. Sanitation and botrytis control spray of damaged foilage may be helpful in controlling secondary disease infection.

Management

When using row covers be sure to secure covers tightly avoiding loose areas of the cover that may abrade the plants. Over large fields that may be wind swept planting small grain for wind breaks may be helpful.

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

Walmart

None

Author:

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