Fire Blight Control: The Struggle Goes On. A Comparison of Different Fire Blight Control Methods in Switzerland with Respect to Biosafety, Efficacy and Durability
Abstract:Fire blight (FB), caused by Erwinia amylovora, is one of the most important pome fruit pathogens worldwide. To control this devastating disease, various chemical and biological treatments are commonly applied in Switzerland, but they fail to keep the infection at an acceptable level in years of heavy disease pressure. The Swiss authorities therefore currently allow the controlled use of the antibiotic streptomycin against FB in years that are predicted to have heavy infection periods, but only one treatment pe… Show more
“…Such treatments are not uncommon forms of biological control. Fire Blight, which targets economically important apple trees, is partially controlled by streptomycin and other chemicals in orchards [32]. Under strict supervision, the Swiss government allows one treatment of the antibiotic to groves per year [32].…”
Section: Discussionmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…Fire Blight, which targets economically important apple trees, is partially controlled by streptomycin and other chemicals in orchards [32]. Under strict supervision, the Swiss government allows one treatment of the antibiotic to groves per year [32]. However, for both the fire blight and chestnut blight treatments, it is important to keep in mind the long term efficacy of treatments, the safety of people who come into contact with the treatments, the health of the target plant, and also the effects on the surrounding environment [32].…”
The American chestnut (Castanea dentata) was once the dominant canopy tree along the eastern region of the United States. Cryphonectria parasitica, the causative agent of chestnut blight, was introduced from Asia in the early 1900's, and obliterated the chestnut population within 50 years. We sought to identify environmental microbes capable of producing factors that were fungicidal or inhibited growth of C. parasitica in the hopes developing a biological control of chestnut blight. We isolated a filamentous fungus that significantly inhibited the growth of C. parasitica upon co-cultivation. Extracellular fractions of this fungal isolate prevented C. parasitica growth, indicating that a potential fungicide was produced by the novel isolate. Sequence analysis of 18S rRNA identified this inhibitory fungus as Penicillium chrysogenum. Furthermore, these extracellular fractions were tested as treatments for blight in vivo using chestnut saplings. Scarred saplings that were treated with the P. chrysogenum extracellular fractions healed subjectively better than those without treatment when inoculated with C. parasitica. These data suggest that material secreted by P. chrysogenum could be used as a treatment for the American chestnut blight. This work may assist the reclamation of the American chestnut in association with breeding programs and blight attenuation. Specifically, treatment of small groves under the right conditions may allow them to remain blight free. Future work will explore the mechanism of action and specific target of the extracellular fraction.
“…Such treatments are not uncommon forms of biological control. Fire Blight, which targets economically important apple trees, is partially controlled by streptomycin and other chemicals in orchards [32]. Under strict supervision, the Swiss government allows one treatment of the antibiotic to groves per year [32].…”
Section: Discussionmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…Fire Blight, which targets economically important apple trees, is partially controlled by streptomycin and other chemicals in orchards [32]. Under strict supervision, the Swiss government allows one treatment of the antibiotic to groves per year [32]. However, for both the fire blight and chestnut blight treatments, it is important to keep in mind the long term efficacy of treatments, the safety of people who come into contact with the treatments, the health of the target plant, and also the effects on the surrounding environment [32].…”
The American chestnut (Castanea dentata) was once the dominant canopy tree along the eastern region of the United States. Cryphonectria parasitica, the causative agent of chestnut blight, was introduced from Asia in the early 1900's, and obliterated the chestnut population within 50 years. We sought to identify environmental microbes capable of producing factors that were fungicidal or inhibited growth of C. parasitica in the hopes developing a biological control of chestnut blight. We isolated a filamentous fungus that significantly inhibited the growth of C. parasitica upon co-cultivation. Extracellular fractions of this fungal isolate prevented C. parasitica growth, indicating that a potential fungicide was produced by the novel isolate. Sequence analysis of 18S rRNA identified this inhibitory fungus as Penicillium chrysogenum. Furthermore, these extracellular fractions were tested as treatments for blight in vivo using chestnut saplings. Scarred saplings that were treated with the P. chrysogenum extracellular fractions healed subjectively better than those without treatment when inoculated with C. parasitica. These data suggest that material secreted by P. chrysogenum could be used as a treatment for the American chestnut blight. This work may assist the reclamation of the American chestnut in association with breeding programs and blight attenuation. Specifically, treatment of small groves under the right conditions may allow them to remain blight free. Future work will explore the mechanism of action and specific target of the extracellular fraction.
“…Malus robusta (at least 75 % less infection, Gusberti et al 2015), therefore significantly reducing the need for bactericide substances applied. Cultivation of GM sugar beet is expected to shift pesticide consumption from 4 to 2 kg active substance/ha in low-weed scenario A and 5 to 2 kg/ha in high weed scenario B, respectively (Nichterlein et al 2013).…”
In Switzerland, genetically modified (GM) crops have been banned in 2005 and have never been used in agriculture. The relevance and sustainability of genetically modified crops for agrosystems have been assessed following a mandate from the Swiss Parliament defined by the Federal Act on Agriculture (187d al.1). For that, an ex ante study based on a multi-criteria decision analysis model that summarises literature and the opinion of experts has been done.The impacts of genetically modified crops on both environmental and socio-economical sustainability in Switzerland have been assessed. Here, we review four model crops for Swiss agriculture: maize, sugar beet, potato and apple. Each crop was compared for both conventional and genetically modified farming systems that contain a specific trait, namely insecticide production (Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt)), herbicide tolerance (HT), fungal resistance (FR), or bacterial resistance (BR). Results show that six out of seven scenarios showed a lower socio-economical sustainability for genetically modified compared to the conventional systems, whereas a slight improvement in the environmental component, mostly resources use, was observed in all scenarios. In conclusion, our work indicates that only carefully tailored and designed genetically modified crops would meet the high standard of requirements of Swiss agrosystems. Our model has thus allowed a quick diagnostic on the impact of genetically modified cultivation on sustainability.
“…Pear fruit and apple shoot inoculation assays show that mature biofilm formation is needed for full virulence of Erwinia (Koczan et al 2011;Piqué et al 2015). Although Erwinia-resistant apple cultivars are not available, certain cultivars are tolerant (Gusberti et al 2015). These cultivars are infected less frequently and develop reduced symptoms.…”
Main conclusion Certain apple cultivars accumulate to high levels in their nectar and stigma exudate an acidic chitinase III protein that can protect against pathogens including fire blight disease causing Erwinia amylovora.
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