If the previous crops on the planting area are potato or tomato, or the weed black nightshade is present, fumigation is desirable before planting strawberries, since potato, tomato and black nightshade are alternate hosts of the fungus. Tests for presence of Verticillium dahliae in soil are not currently available. Poor drainage and overwatering causing waterlogging are the main causes of root rotting. Under these poor growing conditions, various fungi can invade the roots and add to the damage caused by lack of air. The damage can look like the wilting due to Verticillium dahliae and may lead to plant death.
Affected plants are often permanently unthrifty.
Growing plants on raised beds and careful management of irrigation are usually sufficient to control losses. Ashy stem blight is a crown rot disease that is becoming increasingly common in warm growing areas. The fungus causes a rot of the crown of the plant with similar results to that of the root rots and wilts mentioned above. In contrast to those problems, this is a hot weather disease and is worst in dry soil. Control the disease by maintaining adequate water in the root zone through regular irrigation.