Comparative Performance of Fungicides and Biocontrol Products in the Management of Fusarium Wilt of Blackberry

Abstract

Fusarium wilt of blackberry (FWB) is an emerging disease caused by a Fusarium oxysporum species complex. More than 3000 ha of blackberry (Rubus spp.) crops have been lost in Mexico since 2011. The objectives of this research were: (i) to evaluate the sensitivity of pathogenic F. oxysporum isolates recovered from symptomatic blackberry plants to fungicides with different modes of action, (ii) to assess the potential of these fungicides and plant resistance inducers against FWB in the greenhouse, and (iii) to determine the effects of commercial biofungicides and two indigenous strains of Trichoderma spp. on the incidence of FWB. The EC50 values of the fungicides prochloraz, thiabendazole, azoxystrobin, thiophanate-methyl, difenoconazole, triflumizole, and potassium phosphite for six pathogenic F. oxysporum isolates were determined. In a separate experiment, the fungicides acibenzolar-S-methyl (ASM), potassium phosphite, and commercial biofungicides, as well as two soil microbial inoculants and two indigenous Trichoderma strains, were tested for protection against wilt development in blackberry plants in the greenhouse. Prochloraz showed an average sensitivity for EC50 of 0.01 μg ml−1 for the tested F. oxysporum isolates, followed by difenoconazole and thiabendazole. Prochloraz and ASM proved to be the most effective treatments in the greenhouse. In contrast, potassium phosphite was ineffective in both the in vitro and in vivo experiments. The soil bioinoculants MicroSoil®, Baktillis®, T. koningiopsis, and T. asperellum significantly reduced the incidence of disease in the greenhouse. These results provide evidence for the potential of the various tools as useful components of integrated FWB management in the field.

Impacts of abiotic factors on the fungal communities of ‘Honeycrisp’ apples in Canada

“…Thus, there is a growing need for more eco‐friendly disease management strategies. Among the most promising of these methods is the use of biocontrol agents such as selected microbiota which are applied to inhibit or kill pests and pathogens (Acosta‐González et al, 2021 ; Devi et al, 2013 ).…”

A Novel Strain of Fusarium oxysporum Virus 1 Isolated from Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. niveum Strain X-GS16 Influences Phenotypes of F. oxysporum Strain HB-TS-YT-1hyg

“…Difenoconazole, a demethylation inhibitor (DMI) fungicide, has been widely utilized to control black spot disease caused by Alternaria [50,51], as well as Fusarium wilt incited by F. oxysporum [52,53]. Prochloraz is also a DMI fungicide, which is used to manage spot disease caused by A. tenuissima [54] and the Fusarium head blight incited by F. graminearum [55] or Fusarium wilt induced by F. oxysporum [53]. Pydiflumetofen, as a succinate dehydrogenase inhibitor (SDHI) fungicide, can effectively control Alternaria leaf spot caused by A. alternata [56] and Fusarium wilt incited by F. oxysporum f. sp.…”

Why Do We Need Alternative Methods for Fungal Disease Management in Plants?

“…Biocontrol agents are generally plant-associated microbes that have been screened and selected for use in crop systems in order to improve plant fitness, induce plant defence mechanisms, and antagonize pathogens [129,150,151]. Microbes can be beneficial to plant health and disease control through a multitude of mechanisms, and many different biocontrol agents have been developed to protect against pathogens, particularly at the post-harvest stage.…”