Tests for Verticillium sp. (Wilt Disease)
Infected, but not completely dead plants are ideal for testing. When testing for soil-borne pests, the samples should consist of a mixture of equally distributed, individual samples. To do this, take 25 individual samples / ha using an auger (0-20 cm deep), mix them well and send approximately 1 kg to be examined:
Institute for Sustainable Plant Production
Spargelfeldstrasse 191, 1220 Vienna
Tests on Verticillium sp. (wilt disease) include detection in the plant, a simple microscopic examination and the microbiological detection of V. dahlia / V. albo atrum.
The number of the fungal microsclerotia is used for detecting Verticillium dahliae in the soil.
A soil test helps determine the number of microsclerotia per gram of soil. To do this, the soil goes through a wet sieve and is incubated on a selective medium (PGA) for three weeks (Image 1). Image 2 depicts the verticillium colonies that have developed: the left petri dish shows severely contaminated soil with a large number of colonies (positive control), while the right dish shows uncontaminated test soil. Image 3 depicts two colonies of verticillium dahlia microsclerotia, which develop beginning from two individual microsclerotia in the soil sample and grow into the test soil around the original microsclerotia in a radial manner. Image 4 shows microsclerotia in a variety of shapes and sizes, image 5 the whorls with spore carriers and spores of Verticillium sp., with three to four whorls per node.
The tests take about five weeks as a result of the method used. This examination makes it possible to reach conclusions concerning the infection risk presented by Verticillium dahlia before planting.
Testing for other strawberry diseases
Phytophthora sp. (Pathogen of various types of root rot in plants)
Xanthomonas fragariae (Leaf spot disease )
and other fungal plant pathogens.
Contact
For further information on strawberry diseases and the submission of samples, as well as prices, follow this link: https://www.ages.at/en/service/services-agriculture/plant-health/