Conditions which favour the disease are moderated to cool daytime temperatures, low nighttime temperatures, and high humidity. Research has not shown copper sprays to be very effective in controlling this disease. Cultivars vary in their susceptibility. Cowerdish, Annapolis, Allstar, Honeoye and Kent are very susceptible. Overhead irrigation, especially for frost protection, should be used judiciously in problem fields.
Slime moulds are a very primitive form of fungus.
During warm wet weather in spring and fall, they can be many colours, grey, white, purple, yellow, and look like jelly-like masses, or crusty structures. Slime moulds do not actually infect strawberry plants, but they do grow on leaves and fruit and do not have an attractive appearance. Slime moulds appear on low lying vegetation when weather is warm and wet, and generally disappear when hot dry weather returns. They do not generally require control, but many fungicides ordinarily applied to strawberries will also control slime moulds. This information is provided as a public service, but we cannot guarantee that the information is current or accurate.