EVALUATION OF FIRE BLIGHT CONTROL METHODS BASED ON PLANT DEFENCE INDUCERS AND BIOLOGICAL CONTROL AGENTS

The improvement of chemical control of fire blight was carried out by optimizing the effectiveness of plant defense inducers.
Phosphonate derivatives and benzothiadiazole were effective in fire blight control in pear and apple, under controlled environmental conditions.
Their efficacy depended on the dose and the time interval between product application and bacteria inoculation, since several days were required to completely induce plant defences.
Plant defence inducers reduced disease levels to 40–60%. The efficacy of fosetyl-Al and benzothiadiazole in fire blight control was improved when consecutively sprayed (combined strategy) with a half-reduced dose of antibiotics.
Alternative methods like biological control are increasingly used.
The research effort in our laboratory to identify new antagonists of Erwinia amylovora has led to the search for new biocontrol agents. P. fluorescens EPS62e has shown high efficacy in controlling infections in immature fruits and flowers on apple and pear, providing control levels similar to copper or antibiotic compounds.
These results indicate that EPS62e has potential as a biological control agent of fire blight and could be a promising alternative to chemical compounds in the management of fire blight.

X International Pear Symposium

L. Ruz, J. Cabrefiga, A. Bonaterra, C. Moragrega, E. Montesinos

pear, Erwinia amylovora, phosphonates, benzothiadiazole, Pseudomonas fluorescens

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2008.800.121