Wageningen University & Research Greenhouse Horticulture has, with the project Sustainable Cultivation Strategy, conducted a broad knowledge inventory to develop an integrated system approach for managing greenhouse air fungi.
Based on a comprehensive study, new cultivation strategies have been drafted. These were tested in hydroponic tomatoes, gerbera and petunia in two greenhouse trials. Then a practical test was carried out on potted gerbera. The aim was to test the side effect of synthetic elicitors that activate the salicylic acid route against biotrophic pathogen to reduce susceptibility to necrotrophic pathogen, such as Botrytis, both in optimal and sub-optimal growth conditions with relatively low light levels.
In tests with a commercially available elicitor that activates the salicylic acid route, Fado, the sensitivity for Botrytis was reduced in potted tomato, and in potted gerbera, flowers became less susceptible to fungi spots (smear) in the post-harvest phase after preventive treatment. The effect increases in combination with Serenade and Jiffy Mineral (applied in potting soil) and stays well both in low and high light conditions (radiation total 4, 15 and 30 mol/day).
The sensitivity to Botrytis was not only dependent on the total radiation and humidity, but also showed a relationship with nutrients of plant sap analyzes and chlorophyll values. The analyzes with chlorophyll and plant saps indicate that the plant strongly responds to the amount of light and that this is related to the sensitivity to Botrytis. The relationship between Botrytis sensitivity, nutrients in plant sap analyzes and chlorophyll values can make a significant contribution to the further development of prediction models for the risk of Botrytis.
This project has been funded by the former Dutch Marketing Board Horticulture and is directed by LTO Glaskracht Nederland.
Source: LTO Glaskracht Nederland