Nutrition management for integrated control of plant diseases

Different biofertilizers and biostimulants are tested in Italy (AgriNewTech) and France (INRA) on tomato and grape against plant diseases in the framework of EUCLID research work carried out in WP1 – Optimisation and adaptation of current pest management methods and WP2 – Development of innovative pest management products and approaches.

Foliar fertilizers containing humic acids, amino acids, plant hormone-like substances, plant elicitors and rapidly available sources of meso and micronutrients have been tested in experimental trials during the first year of the project. Preliminary results indicate that the products are effective in the control of foliar pathogens like powdery and downy mildew on tomato and grape, and further tests will evaluate the possibility to integrate them in order to reduce chemical fungicides and consequently pesticide residues in food.

In the next months, the activities will continue testing effects also in field conditions and transferring this IPM practice to farmers.

Farmers and stakeholders that are interested to know more about the use of biostimulants to enhance plant disease resistance against powdery and downy mildew can contact EUCLID partner AgriNewTech.