This present study investigated the effects of heat shock treatments in strawberry seedlings against
crown rot caused by Colletotrichum gloeosporioides. Heat shock treatment at 50 C for 20 s reduced the
disease index of strawberry crown rot and increased chitinase 2-1 gene expression as well as free salycilic
acid accumulation. Heat shock treatment did not reduce mycelial growth of C. gloeosporioides. BIT(2-
benzisothiazol-3(2H)-one,1,1-dioxide) treatment could not protect strawberry seedlings against crown
rot disease. This finding suggests that heat shock induces strawberry resistance against Colletotrichum
crown rot and assumes that mechanisms other than SAR probably mediated the protective effect of heat
shock-induced resistance