What question did this study set out to answer?

To identify and characterize the fungal community driving severe strawberry decline syndrome in organic fields in Southern Italy.

August 22, 2026Journal of Plant Diseases and ProtectionOpen Access

Characterization of fungi associated with the decline syndrome of strawberry from organic cultivation in Southern Italy

Q: What does this research mean for the field?

The severe decline syndrome recently observed in organically cultivated strawberries in Southern Italy is primarily associated with Neopestalotiopsis species and Dactylonectria torresensis, rather than common established strawberry pathogens. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.NOVEL_FINDING. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.NEUTRAL.

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Authors

ȘMȘtefania Mirela MangUniversity of Basilicata CPCarmine PalmieriUniversity of Salerno ICIppolito CameleUniversity of Basilicata

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Implication

Field investigation uncovers Neopestalotiopsis species and Dactylonectria torresensis dominating strawberry decline syndrome, highlighting targets for organic disease management.

Key Points

To identify and characterize the fungal community driving severe strawberry decline syndrome in organic fields in Southern Italy.
Collected symptomatic root samples from two organic strawberry fields in Eboli and Caserta displaying 60% to 80% disease incidence.
Isolated 47 pure fungal cultures and characterized them through morphological analysis and multi-locus phylogeny targeting the ITS and tub2 barcodes.
Neopestalotiopsis species (55% and 63% relative abundance) and Dactylonectria torresensis (13% relative abundance) represented the primary fungal isolates from symptomatic roots.
Common strawberry root pathogens like Fusarium oxysporum and Rhizoctonia solani occurred only sporadically, while non-pathogenic fungi with potential biocontrol activity (such as Clonostachys rosea) were also recovered.

Cite This Study

Mang et al. (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a895f74ca7ade938187e136 https://doi.org/10.1007/s41348-026-01329-9

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Implication

Field investigation uncovers Neopestalotiopsis species and Dactylonectria torresensis dominating strawberry decline syndrome, highlighting targets for organic disease management.

Characterization of fungi associated with the decline syndrome of strawberry from organic cultivation in Southern Italy

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Key Points

Cite This Study

Characterization of fungi associated with the decline syndrome of strawberry from organic cultivation in Southern Italy

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Key Points

Cite This Study

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