Possible solutions for replant problems caused by soil-borne pathogens in organic strawberry production

Summary in the original language of the document

Soil-borne pathogens, above all Verticillium sp. cause plant losses and yield decreases in many Austrian
strawberry fields, also in organic farming systems; in a research project possibilities to resolve this problem
were examined. In a field trial, which was started 1998, organically managed and differently fertilized plots
(green compost, manure, hornchips) were compared to an unfertilised control plot and to two mineral
fertilized and conventionally treated plots; the differences in field characteristics of strawberries in 2004 and
2005 were low, but differences in storage and biochemical characteristics could be seen in 2005. Some new
cultivars tested as alternative to the very sensitive 'Elsanta' planted in 2005 on several farms showed a
higher tolerance to diseases and good yield and fruit quality characteristics. Brassica sp. planted as an
intercrop before strawberries reduced the amount of microsclerotia of Verticillium dahliae in highly infested
soils, nevertheless the system has to be optimised and adapted to our climatic and husbandry conditions in
further trials.