Yes, black seeds on strawberries can indicate a problem, specifically a disease known as "black seed disease."
While the small, yellowish-green "seeds" (which are technically achenes, part of the fruit containing the actual seed inside) are normally scattered across the strawberry's surface, black achenes are not typical. According to the provided reference, the fungal pathogen causing leaf spot disease also affects the fruit. On the fruit, this is often called black seed disease.
What Black Seeds on Strawberries Can Mean
Based on the reference, the presence of black seeds is the initial symptom of black seed disease. This fungal infection can progress:
- Initial Stage: The achene (what appears to be the black seed) turns black.
- Progression: Following the blackening of the achene, the tissue surrounding it becomes infected and turns brown.
This means that seeing black seeds on a strawberry is a sign that the fruit is infected with a fungal pathogen.
Understanding Black Seed Disease
Black seed disease is caused by the same fungal pathogen responsible for leaf spot disease in strawberries. While leaf spot primarily affects the plant's foliage, it can also impact the fruit, leading to symptoms like black seeds and browning of the surrounding tissue.
Discovering black seeds doesn't necessarily mean the entire strawberry is inedible, but it does indicate fungal activity on the surface. It's generally advisable to avoid fruit showing signs of significant disease.
