Identification of<i> Fusarium</i> Species Associated with Fusarium wilt Disease of Strawberry in Zhejiang Province, China

Strawberry Fusarium wilt, caused by <i>Fusarium</i> spp. is one of the most devastating diseases threatening the Chinese strawberry industry. In this study, 64 representative <i>Fusarium</i> strains were isolated from diseased crowns and petioles of strawberry plants cultivated in six key production areas across Zhejiang Province, where disease incidence ranged from 30% to 50% from July to December. Morphological characterization, multi-locus phylogenetic analysis, and pathogenicity tests identified these strains as three distinct species: <i>Fusarium</i> <i>oxysporum</i> f. sp. <i>fragariae</i> (<i>Fof</i>) (48 strains, 75%) in the <i>Fusarium</i> <i>oxysporum</i> species complex (FOSC), <i>Fusarium</i> <i>luffae</i> (9 strains, 14.06%) in the <i>Fusarium</i> <i>incarnatum-equiseti</i> species complex (FIESC), and <i>Fusarium commune</i> (7 strains, 10.94%) in the <i>Fusarium nisikadoi</i> species complex (FNSC). Among these species, <i>Fof</i> was dominant, the fastest colony growth at temperatures above 28 ℃. Pathogenicity tests revealed that <i>Fof</i> isolates resulted in the highest disease severity, followed by <i>F. commune</i>. This study presents the first report of <i>Fof</i> as a causal agent of strawberry Fusarium wilt in Zhejiang, China, and of <i>F. luffae</i> causing Fusarium wilt of strawberry worldwide. The identification and pathogenicity characterization of <i>Fusarium</i> species causing strawberry wilt provides valuable information for the effective management of the disease in China.