# Efficacy of Four In Vitro Fungicides for Control of Wilting of Strawberry Crops in Puebla-Mexico
## 4 Discussion  
According to the morphological and taxonomic characteristics corresponding to _F. solani_[19; 39; 40], it was confirmed that the strain MA-FC120 belongs to this fungal genus. Likewise, the phylogenetic analysis of the concatenated sequences (ITS-EF-1\(\alpha\)) shows 100% identity with the species _F. solani_. In this regard, [PERSON] et al. [41] used ITS and EF-1\(\alpha\) molecular markers to confirm the identity of CFs4 (ITS: MF972071; EF-1\(\alpha\): MF972074) and CFs8 (ITS: MF972072; EF-1\(\alpha\): MF972075) strains, with both strains belonging to the _F. solani_species complex (FSSC), associated with citrus dry root rot in the eastern Mediterranean region of Turkey; the same molecular markers were used in the present study. The phytopathogen _F. solani_ can affect more than 100 plant species of agricultural interest, including strawberry crops [42]. It has been reported as a pathogen that causes drying, stunting, wilting, necrosis, and death in strawberry plants [12]. It was detected for the first time in 2012, in strawberry nursery plants with symptoms of crown rot similar to those found in the present study. Pathogenicity tests revealed similar results to those already reported by [PERSON] et al. [12] on strawberry (_Fragaria \(\times\) ananassa_) plants. Symptoms consisted of wilting of foliage, stunting, drying, and death of plants. [PERSON] et al. [16] reported vascular wilt, chlorosis, and root rot in strawberry crops. They observed necrotic roots, gray-green wilted leaves, and plant death, symptoms similar to those observed in this study. Fungi of genus _Fusarium_ can invade the vascular tissues of plants, impede water transport through the Xylem by inducing vessel blockage and causing wilting of foliage [43]. In addition, _F. solani_ concentrates in the collar area, causing rotting and subsequently plant death [44]. The lack of research limits the ability of growers to choose effective products and increases the risk of generating strains resistant to the active ingredients used in fungicides. However, the traditional method of control against pathogenic fungi is still chemical pesticides [45]. Likewise, management of _Fusarium_ wilting infection is mainly performed through chemical soil fumigation for strawberry cultivation [46]. Fungicides are commonly used in conventional agriculture to protect strawberries from field rot and improve yield [47]. [PERSON] et al. [48] studied in vitro the effect of Mancozeb on _F. solani_ and reported that this pesticide inhibited 42.5% of mycelial growth of pathogens. Another study by [PERSON] et al. [49] reported the effect of Mancozeb on isolates of _F. solani_, the causal agent of root rot in papaya obtaining 61.46% mycelial-growth inhibition. Both studies presented higher values than those reported in the present research. According to FRAC (2018) [50], Mancozeb has a multisite mode of action; therefore, it is broad-spectrum and protective, it acts by forming compounds that bind with sulfhydryl groups of amino acids and causes denaturation of proteins and enzymes, and, consequently, suppresses pathogen growth. However, a study by [PERSON] et al. [51] reported the effect of Mancozeb on _F. solani_, the causal agent of root rot in chickpea, where they obtained 54.82% inhibition of mycelial growth, with a concentration of 500 ppm, values similar to those reported in present investigation and considered slightly toxic on the IOBC [38] classification scale. Dithiocarbamate fungicides such as Mancozeb are among the most widely used pesticides today in the control of a wide variety of diseases in seeds, fruits, and vegetables. However, there are several studies where the fungicide Mancozeb is related to health diseases such as Parkinson's, teratogenesis, and carcinogenesis, for which reason it is prohibited in several countries [52]. Due to its high toxicity, the minimum purity proposed by the EU NMS is 850 g/kg, while the minimum purity proposed by Agria is 915 g/kg [53]. In the case of the fungicide Captan, [PERSON] et al.