Protection of apple and pear flowers against fire blight infections using biocontrol organisms applied via bumblebees

Limited tools are available to growers to protect apple and pear flowers against Erwinia amylovora infection of which the risk increases with increasing temperature making the secondary bloom later in the season more vulnerable than the primary bloom in early spring. Apart from regular inspections and removal of the infected plant parts preventive sprayings with plant defense enhancer molecules (e,g, fosethyl aluminium, laminarin) and heavy metals to reduce the host susceptibility in the orchard are practiced in Belgium, but not during bloom to avoid phytotoxicity. Spraying with the antagonistic yeast Aureobasidium pullulans (Blossom ProtectTM) that can block flower colonization by E. amylovora is another option in Belgium to cover the fire blight susceptible blooming periods, but requires at least 2 to 3 applications to protect all flowers and causes fruit russeting. In this joint research project we aim at the continuous application of the biocontrol organism (BCO) at the sites of flower infection by bumblebee (Bombus terrestris) vectoring.

Documents

Protection of apple and pear flowers against fire blight infections using biocontrol organisms applied via bumblebees () Poster

Details

Activity type

Participation in scientific conference

Activity work package

Reduction in pesticide residues

Activity number

Pcfruit-WP3-a6

Activity contact

Serge Remy
Proefcentrum fruitteelt vzw, Fruittuinweg 1
3800 Sint-Truiden, Belgium
Tel.: +32 (0)11 69 71 50
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.pcfruit.be

Activity partner

Proefcentrum fruitteelt vzw

Activity country

Germany

Last edit

02-11-2016