Articles
Movement and cultural management of cranberry fruit rot pathogens in propagative cuttings
Article number
1440_29
Pages
207 – 212
Language
English
Abstract
Cranberry cuttings used for establishing new beds are generally untreated for diseases prior to planting.
We hypothesize that the lack of pre-establishment disease management practices in vegetative cuttings contributes to the prevalence of fruit rot pathogens in propagative tissues.
Furthermore, we hypothesize that implementing pre-planting heat treatments on propagative material can reduce pathogen presence.
This study examines the diversity and abundance of fruit rot fungi in propagative cuttings and assesses the efficacy of pre-planting heat treatments for controlling pathogens.
In 2023, vegetative cuttings were collected from seven commercial marshes in central and northern Wisconsin at three stages: 24 h after mowing, during storage, and 24 h before planting.
Fungal pathogens associated with propagative cuttings were identified using culture dependent and independent approaches.
For heat treatment experiments, in vitro studies were conducted with Colletotrichum acutatum isolates to determine temperatures that inhibit spore germination.
Greenhouse trials examined the impact of heat treatments on plant survival and pathogen mortality.
Cranberry cuttings, ‘Stevens’ and ‘Mullica Queen’, were exposed to different temperatures (37 to 49°C) for 15- or 30-min durations in a hot water bath.
Regardless of the sampling time point, fruit rot pathogens were identified in all plant tissues, indicating potential latent infections in propagative material.
In vitro heat treatments identified maximum survival temperatures for C. acutatum at 49°C (15 min) and 46°C (30 min). Greenhouse results revealed that 8 weeks after heat treatment, 75% of ‘Stevens’ cuttings exhibited root and shoot growth.
Additionally, 12 weeks post-heat treatment, ‘Mullica Queen’ cuttings displayed approximately 83% survival, with mortality observed in the 47 and 49°C temperature groups.
There were no significant differences in plant mortality across the different heat treatment groups.
These findings suggest that cranberry plants can establish following heat treatments, offering potential for reducing losses due to pathogen infection while maintaining plant viability.
We hypothesize that the lack of pre-establishment disease management practices in vegetative cuttings contributes to the prevalence of fruit rot pathogens in propagative tissues.
Furthermore, we hypothesize that implementing pre-planting heat treatments on propagative material can reduce pathogen presence.
This study examines the diversity and abundance of fruit rot fungi in propagative cuttings and assesses the efficacy of pre-planting heat treatments for controlling pathogens.
In 2023, vegetative cuttings were collected from seven commercial marshes in central and northern Wisconsin at three stages: 24 h after mowing, during storage, and 24 h before planting.
Fungal pathogens associated with propagative cuttings were identified using culture dependent and independent approaches.
For heat treatment experiments, in vitro studies were conducted with Colletotrichum acutatum isolates to determine temperatures that inhibit spore germination.
Greenhouse trials examined the impact of heat treatments on plant survival and pathogen mortality.
Cranberry cuttings, ‘Stevens’ and ‘Mullica Queen’, were exposed to different temperatures (37 to 49°C) for 15- or 30-min durations in a hot water bath.
Regardless of the sampling time point, fruit rot pathogens were identified in all plant tissues, indicating potential latent infections in propagative material.
In vitro heat treatments identified maximum survival temperatures for C. acutatum at 49°C (15 min) and 46°C (30 min). Greenhouse results revealed that 8 weeks after heat treatment, 75% of ‘Stevens’ cuttings exhibited root and shoot growth.
Additionally, 12 weeks post-heat treatment, ‘Mullica Queen’ cuttings displayed approximately 83% survival, with mortality observed in the 47 and 49°C temperature groups.
There were no significant differences in plant mortality across the different heat treatment groups.
These findings suggest that cranberry plants can establish following heat treatments, offering potential for reducing losses due to pathogen infection while maintaining plant viability.
Publication
Authors
A. Vazquez-Catoni, E. Lozano, L. Holland
Keywords
disease management, Colletotrichum, heat treatments, latent infections, ‘Stevens’, ‘Mullica Queen’, Wisconsin
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