Improving the management of bacterial canker in stone fruits

Summary

The Problem:

Bacterial canker is a destructive disease of plums and cherries, that has been causing on-going problems for growers for many years. It can be caused by two distinct pathovars of Pseudomonas syringae: pv. morsprunorum (Psm) and pv. syringae (Pss). Psm is host specific to Prunus spp., whereas Pss has a much wider host range, with the potential for cross infection between a number of different species and genera. Although the stem canker phase is the most economically important, these pathogens may also cause leaf spots/shot-holes, shoot die-back and flower blights. An HDC-funded project on bacterial canker (HNS 179) has recently been completed, but was targeted specifically at improving disease management during nursery production, where the issues and control options differ from fruit production. This project aims to capitalise on the information and experience gained during the previous project to: (a) produce guidelines for disease control in fruit production; (b) determine if there is any evidence for the development of copper resistance in the UK as has occurred in the USA; (c) determine if there are any potential new or alternative products that have potential for use in disease control.

Sector:
Horticulture
Project code:
TF 217
Date:
01 March 2014 - 30 June 2015
Funders:
AHDB Horticulture
AHDB sector cost:
£21,995
Project leader:
DR STEVEN ROBERTS, PLANT HEALTH SOLUTIONS LTD

Downloads

TF 217_Report-Final TF 217_GS_Final_2015_0

About this project

Aims and objectives:

(i) Project aim(s):
To improve the control of bacterial canker.

(ii) Project objective(s):
(1) Produce best-practice guidelines for the management of bacterial canker in plums and cherries during fruit production.
(2) Determine if there is any evidence of copper resistance in recent isolates of the pathogens.
(3) Perform preliminary glasshouse evaluations of potential spray products.

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