Buy only plants designated virus-free. This soil-borne fungus disease affects other garden plants and certain weeds, as well as strawberries. It's most active in cool weather when fruit is setting. The outer leaves of infected plants wilt and dry at the margins and between the veins. Few new leaves form and newly developed shoots have blackened tips.
Severe infection causes complete collapse of the plant.
Less severely infected plants will be weak and succumb to winter-kill. Symptoms are usually found in mother plants but not in daughter plants. Black Root Rot. This is the general name for several crown and root rot problems that produce similar symptoms. Poor soil conditions can cause this problem, and winter injury may also be a major cause.