Published online by Cambridge University Press: 12 June 2017
Tolerance of strawberry to Colletotrichum gloeosporioides f. sp. malvae, (C. g. malvae) a mycoherbicide for control of round-leaved mallow, was tested in the growth chamber and field in an area infested with round-leaved mallow. No visual infections of C. g. malvae were observed on inoculated strawberry plants in the growth chamber or field. However, C. g. malvae was reisolated from inoculated leaves and petioles from both situations, but no adverse effects were observed on strawberry plant development in the growth chamber or on berry yield in the field. Round-leaved mallow competition was detrimental to strawberry establishment, and berry yield was reduced by half compared to weed-free plots. In round-leaved mallow infested plots, treatment with C. g. malvae resulted in more vigorous strawberry plants, with berry production almost to the level of weed-free. Therefore, use of this mycoherbicide for control of round-leaved mallow in strawberries is a viable option that fits well in an integrated pest management system.