Soilborne pathogens affect strawberry fruit flavor and quality

Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. fragariae and Macrophomina phaseolina are soilborne fungi leading impactful economical losses to strawberry growers worldwide. Symptoms caused by both pathogens are very similar and include vascular discoloration, wilting, stunting, and dieback of plants, but no fruit damage. An extraction of phenolic and volatile compounds was performed on strawberry fruits from three different cultivars while being grown in a plant growth medium infested by each pathogen. Inoculated plants showed higher content of certain phenolic compounds which have antifungal and antioxidant activity and may have a positive impact on strawberry shelf life. On the other hand, root and vascular infections caused by F. oxysporum and M. phaseolina were able to significantly alter strawberry aroma by reducing or increasing the content of specific volatile compounds which also have an important impact on fruit quality. The changes induced in the aroma profiles of the three strawberry cultivars do not only have organoleptic and economic implications for strawberry growers but play an important role in the plant defense system against pathogens. The results indicate a potential of this line of research to develop new tools for the detection and control of soil pathogens.