The effects of organic and synthetic products on controlling gray mold in strawberries and enhancing fruit quality in Serbia

This study was conducted to identify ecologically safe techniques for quality production of strawberry in Serbia.
A new formula of the liquid vermicompost-based product (VCMo), containing Trichoderma, Bacillus, Pseudomonas, and Azotobacter species, suitable for both nutrition and protection against diseases, has been developed at the Fruit Research Institute Čačak of Republic of Serbia.
Its effectiveness was assessed by measuring the degree of gray mold (Botrytis cinerea Pers.) infection and fruit quality (fruit weight and dimensions, total phenolic content and antioxidant activity) of strawberry.
In addition, its efficacy has been compared to the biodegradable product (FitoBotryfun) and a combination of synthetic fungicides (Switch + Signum). As regards the control of gray mold, the highest efficacy was achieved by the Switch + Signum application, followed by VCMo, while the efficacy of FitoBotryfun was less satisfactory.
The highest quality of the strawberry fruits was observed in VCMo treatment followed by FitoBotryfun and Switch + Signum.
The results suggest that VCMo can be an alternative to chemical-based fungicides for B. cinerea control in strawberries, and to improve the quality fruits.

V Balkan Symposium on Fruit Growing

M. Pešaković, J. Tomić, Ž. Karaklajić Stajić, B. Rilak, V. Đurović, L. Mandić, S. Milenković

Fragaria × ananassa Duch., B. cinerea, Trichoderma sp., Bacillus sp., phenolics, antioxidative activity

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2026.1449.43