What is one of the key characteristics of strawberry anthracnose biology?

Strawberry anthracnose, caused primarily by the fungus Colletotrichum species, is characterized as necrotrophic. This distinction refers to the pathogen's mode of nutrient acquisition and its relationship with the host plant. Necrotrophic fungi thrive by killing and then consuming the host's cells, leading to tissue damage and decay. In the case of strawberry anthracnose, the pathogen invades the plant tissues, causing lesions and ultimately can lead to significant crop loss.

The necrotrophic lifestyle of Colletotrichum is critical to understanding the disease's impact, as it illustrates how the pathogen actively destroys plant tissue to obtain nutrients. This is in contrast to biotrophic pathogens, which typically maintain some living host tissue while extracting nutrients, a fact that significantly influences management strategies. Knowing that strawberry anthracnose is a necrotrophic pathogen helps inform appropriate control measures, such as fungicide applications and cultural practices aimed at reducing plant stress and improving crop resilience.