The first report of pestalotiopsis sp. causing crown rot disease on strawberries in Dalat. Study on the pathogens causing strawberries crown rot disease was complied with the methodology of Koch. Results from isolating 150 samples of infected plant parts collected from three strawberry cultivated areas in Dalat (Ward 7, Ward 8 and Ward 12) indicated that there were 327 isolates belonging to six fungal species. | 364 DALAT UNIVERSITY JOURNAL OF SCIENCE Volume 6, Issue 3, 2016 364–376 THE FIRST REPORT OF PESTALOTIOPSIS SP. CAUSING CROWN ROT DISEASE ON STRAWBERRIES IN DALAT Le Dunga*, Nguyen Thi Dienb, Phan Hoang Daic, Pham Ngoc Tuana a The Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry, Dalat University, Lamdong, Vietnam b The Sub-department of Plant Protection and Cultivation, Thaibinh, Vietnam c Institute of Research and Hi-tech Application in Agriculture, Dalat University, Lamdong, Vietnam Article history Received: June 02nd, 2016 Received in revised form (1st): July 02nd, 2016 | Received in revised form (2nd): August 02nd, 2016 Accepted: August 28th, 2016 Abstract Study on the pathogens causing strawberries crown rot disease was complied with the methodology of Koch. Results from isolating 150 samples of infected plant parts collected from three strawberry cultivated areas in Dalat (Ward 7, Ward 8 and Ward 12) indicated that there were 327 isolates belonging to six fungal species. Most fungi isolated from infected parts were identified as Botrytis cinerea, Verticillium sp., Cylindrocarpon destructans, Fusarium oxysporum, Rhizoctonia sp. and Pestalotiopsis sp., in which the main fungi consistently isolated were Pestalotiopsis sp By fulfilling Koch’s postulates, the results of pathogenesis test indicated that Pestalotiopsis sp. was a pathogen causing the crown rot disease on strawberries in Dalat. This is the first report on the association of Pestalotiopsis sp. with crown rot disease of strawberries in Vietnam. Keywords: Crown rot disease; Pathogens; Pestalotiopsis sp.; Strawberry. 1. INTRODUCTION Strawberries (Fragaria x ananassa Duch.) are a high value crop of economy and nutrition. In Vietnam, strawberries are mainly grown in Dalat, where the average elevation is 1,500 meters above sea level with a cool climate all year round, average temperature being of about 18 – 21oC, and soil having favorable conditions for cultivation of vegetables. Although not being grown into .
