Some 90% of the United States' fresh strawberries are grown in California, but the crop is threatened by the Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. fragariae (Fof) fungus, the rapid spread of which could harm both the availability of the popular fruit and growers' livelihoods. The Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research is providing a $149,662 Rapid Outcomes from Agricultural Research (ROAR) grant to the University of California, Davis (UC Davis) to quickly combat the pathogen. UC Davis is providing matching funds for a total investment of $299,323.
While strawberries have some genetic resistance to the Fof pathogen, a new type of fungus has emerged that can overcome this resistance. Researchers also have discovered a type of Fof that can produce airborne spores, making containment difficult. If Fof spreads across the state, it will affect growers' income by stunting plant growth and lowering yield while increasing costs to consumers as supplies decrease.
Researchers led by Dr. Mitchell Feldmann, assistant professor and director-elect of the Strawberry Breeding program at UC Davis, are tackling the threat of Fof on two fronts: developing genetic resistance in strawberries and building knowledge about the mobility of airborne Fof. They are studying diverse strawberry varieties to uncover genetic bases for resistance to Fof and facilitate breeding for stronger resistance in strawberries. The team is also studying the spread and harmfulness of the airborne Fof spores to evaluate the pathogen's potential to travel long distances.
"This FFAR ROAR award is part of a quick response from my group and Dr. Peter Henry of the USDA Agriculture Research Service to combat this emergent threat to California's strawberry growers," says Dr. Feldmann. "The support for FFAR and the University of California, Davis is instrumental for understanding the scope of the problem and for taking the first steps towards a solution."
The results of this research will equip growers with precise risk management guidelines to protect their crops from Fof. For more information about this project, click here.