First Report of Macrophomina phaseolina Causing Crown and Root Rot of Strawberry in Tripoli, Libya

Abstract

Macrophomina phaseolina has been reported for the first time in three areas of strawberry production in east Tripoli (Al-Nasheh, Bir Al-Turki, Eslaisla). 90 percent of tested strawberry plants (cv. Fortuna) showed symptoms of wilting and collapse compared to control treatments. Morphological and pathogenicity tests confirmed that Macrophomina phaseolina is the causal agent of strawberry crown and root rot.