Location: Genetic Improvement for Fruits & Vegetables Laboratory
Project Number: 8042-21220-260-003-S
Project Type: Non-Assistance Cooperative Agreement
Start Date: May 9, 2025
End Date: May 8, 2027
Objective:
Evaluate strawberry genotypes for response to emerging pathogens starting with Neopestalotiopsis:
1) determine which ARS cultivars and other available cultivars are resistant to Neopestalotiopsis, a new disease that in 2024 prevented sale of plants to Mid-Atlantic strawberry growers;
2) develop an assay appropriate for determining the level of resistance a strawberry genotype has to Neopestalotiopsis; and
3) determine the number of genes conferring resistance to Neopestalotiopsis in the ARS-Beltsville strawberry breeding population.
Approach:
ARS will provide starting plant material of available strawberry cultivars and knowledge of propagation and genetics testing. ARS will provide greenhouse and field space as needed. Cooperator will provide Neopestalotiopsis inoculum and knowledge of pathogen culture, inoculation and symptomatology. Cooperator will provide greenhouse and lab space as needed. The Cooperator will test ARS-provided plants for response to a previously-reported level of inoculum. The cooperator will determine the level of inoculum ideal for determining the level of resistance or tolerance to Neopestalotiopsis. ARS will provide fields of strawberries planted in a randomized complete block design for rating response to the disease. ARS will also provide observational access to breeding families growing in fields and will determine the number of genes involved with resistance when families segregating for resistance are observed.