This is the most common of all root diseases. It is caused by a complex of soil inhabiting fungi and nematodes. Adverse conditions such as winter injury, fertilizer burn, herbicide injury, nutrient deficiency, drought, or excess water are also thought to be involved. This disease usually occurs in the spring. Around picking time plants suffering from root rot start to wilt, the leaves turn brown, and the plant dies.
Affected plants show brown to nearly black roots which dry out and die.
These roots are much smaller that normal. Care in selecting planting sites may help avoid black root rot. Avoid heavy or poorly-drained soils. Do not replant strawberries on the same site until after at least a 2 year rotation. Use only sound, white-rooted planting stock.