Choosing an Adequate Pesticide Delivery System for Managing Pathogens with Difficult Biologies: Case Studies onDiplodia corticola, Venturia inaequalisandErwinia amylovora

Abstract

With the challenges that negatively impact tree-based agriculture, landscapes and forests, such as climate change, plant pathogen and insect range expansion, invasive species and limited new pesticides, it is important to introduce new and effective tree protection options. In the last 20 years, pathogens that invade wood i.e. vascular tissues of trees causing wilt, yellowing, premature defoliation, cankers and tree death, have been on the rise. Diplodia corticola causes Bot canker of oak species which can kill trees diminishing the valuable ecological services they provide and reducing profits from wood and cork production. Since this and similar pathogens have difficult biologies because they reside in wood and cause severe internal damage and tree death, their management is difficult or inefficient with classical pesticide application methods that cannot reach and distribute the active ingredient in vascular wood tissues. As practical management options for this and other vascular tissue pathogens of trees are limited, we evaluated efficacy of several trunk injected fungicides in control of D. corticola and compared it with the efficacy of trunk injection of similar compounds for control of Venturia inaequalis and Erwinia amylovora, as two well-studied apple tree pathogens with different or partially similar lifestyles to D. corticola, respectively.

Biopesticide Trunk Injection Into Apple Trees: A Proof of Concept for the Systemic Movement of Mint and Cinnamon Essential Oils

“…In terms of agricultural application, trunk injection and EO applications are rarely used ( Aćimović et al, 2020 ). This work was established as a proof of concept that the combination of both may be a suitable strategy to develop the biopesticidal potential of EOs whilst avoiding most of their drawbacks.…”

“…Nevertheless, particular attention must be paid to the formulation of EO-based pesticides ( Aćimović et al, 2020 ). A well-studied formulation could, on the one hand, counter the high volatility of EOs and ensure the prolonged release of the active substance and, on the other hand, attenuate potential phytotoxic effects ( Moretti et al, 2002 ; Maes et al, 2019 ).…”

Behind the curtain of the compartmentalization process: Exploring how xylem vessel diameter impacts vascular pathogen resistance

“…This loss of hydraulic conductivity has negative effects on the plant and according to the extent of infection can ultimately lead to plant death (Deyett et al, 2019; Inch & Ploetz, 2012). Because vascular pathogens reside in the wood, the use of curative management strategies are usually difficult to implement or ineffective (Aćimović, Martin, Turcotte, Meredith, & Munck, 2019; Jiménez‐Díaz et al, 2011; Mondello et al, 2017). Control strategies preventing the infection can sometimes be used, but the planting of tolerant or resistant genotypes appears to be a more sustainable long‐term approach (Jiménez‐Díaz et al, 2011; Sniezko & Koch, 2017).…”

Potential of Trichoderma spp. and Pinus sylvestris Bark Extracts as Biocontrol Agents against Fungal Pathogens Residing in the Botryosphaeriales

“…The pathogenicity of Botryosphaeriales is of a particular importance in urban environments as city parks are mostly comprised of plants belonging to diverse taxonomic groups and these fungi can infect multiple hosts [19]. Botryosphaeriales species are difficult to control because these pathogens reside in vascular woody tissues and cause cankers [20]. Besides, there is an increasing concern about the environmental effects and safety of conventional fungicide-based control measures against diseases caused by these fungi [21].…”