Pepper: Improved control of Fusarium internal fruit rot through increased knowledge exchange with the Netherlands and targeted application of plant protection products - phase 2

Summary

Project Summary:

Internal fruit rot of sweet pepper grown in glasshouses has been an increasing problem worldwide, including the UK, for the last 15 years. The disease causes some losses on production nurseries but more importantly Fusarium continues to be a frequent cause of rejection by packhouses and product returns from supermarkets. Losses vary greatly between crops and seasons. We have shown several weakly pathogenic Fusarium species are associated with the disease, notably F. lactis and F. oxysporum in the UK. Fusarium spores deposited on the stigma during flowering grow rapidly through the style resulting in infection of seeds and internal fruit wall. Work in PE 007 demonstrated that a single spray of Serenade ASO applied to a crop during flowering can reduce the incidence of infection in fruit developing from treated flowers by around 50%. In PE 022 (phase 1) we showed F. lactis commonly occurs on rockwool propagation blocks in production glasshouses, a previously unknown source of the fungus. We also found that a high proportion of flowers and young fruits (1-2 cm diameter) in commercial crops were infected with F. lactis, yet only a relatively small proportion of fruit develop internal fruit rot. Results from 2014 and plans for 2015 were shared between the pathology teams at Bleiswijk Research Station (Wageningen University) and ADAS. This project aims to reduce losses to Fusarium internal fruit rot through: (1) continued information exchange and discussion on the disease with Dutch researchers; (2) examination of pepper seeds as a source of F. lactis and F. oxysporum that leads to growth of the fungi in rockwool propagation cubes; (3) determining the reduction in fruit infection provided by one and several applications of Serenade ASO to a crop row, cube surface and floor; (4) determining if use of biopesticides / plant resistance inducers applied preventatively provide protection to flowers and/or fruit against infection and/or fruit rot development; (5) monitor occurrence of F. lactis in flowers, young fruit and mature fruit in an organic pepper crop and a conventional crop; (6) communication of results to growers.

 

Sector:
Horticulture
Project code:
PE 022A
Date:
02 July 2015 - 31 March 2017
Funders:
AHDB Horticulture
AHDB sector cost:
£56,548
Project leader:
DR TIM O'NEILL, ADAS UK LTD

Downloads

PE 022a_G S Report_Annual_2016 PE 022a_Report_Annual_2016 PE 022a_G S Report_Final_2017 PE 022a_Report_Final_2017

About this project

Aims and objectives:

(i) Project aim:

To reduce fruit wastage due to Fusarium internal rot through knowledge exchange and by targeted application of plant protection products.

 
(ii) Project objectives:
1. To continue liaison with the Dutch researchers working on Fusarium internal fruit rot and exchange information and results;
2. To investigate occurrence of Fusarium lactis and other Fusarium species on pepper seed, and infected seed as a possible source of Fusarium spp. on rockwool propagation cubes;
3. To determine the reduction in Fusarium internal fruit rot achieved by one or several sprays of Serenade ASO to flowers, crop and floor;
4. To examine a range of biopesticides and resistance inducers applied to flowers, leaves and roots on the level of Fusarium in flowers and young fruit;
5. To monitor occurrence of Fusarium lactis in flowers, young fruit and mature fruit in an organic pepper crop compared with a conventional crop;
6. To communicate results to UK pepper growers.
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