Crown rot occurs when the fungus grows into crowns from infected runners or petioles. Plants with crown rot may die in the nursery or after being transferred to production fields. Wilting plants with crown rot have a reddish brown, firm rot in the interior of the crown. This can be seen most easily by cutting through the crown lengthwise. Crown rot is sometimes difficult to identify just on the basis of crown discoloration because crowns of dying strawberry plants turn brown regardless of what kills them.
Fruit rot can occur on both ripe and unripe fruit.
Infected tissue on ripening fruit appears as round, firm, sunken, tan to brown spots that turn into sunken black lesions with age. The spots may remain a light tan color for a few days, especially during wet weather. The entire fruit may become infected, dried, and mummified. Dark brown to black, firm lesions can occur on the green fruit of susceptible cultivars. Persistence And Transmission.