TITLE:
Field Application of Non-Pathogenic Verticillium dahliae Genotypes for Regulation of Wilt in Strawberry Plants
AUTHORS:
Katharina Diehl, Philip Rebensburg, Peter Lentzsch
KEYWORDS:
Antagonism; Biological Control Agent; Wilt Regulation; Verticillium; Strawberry
JOURNAL NAME:
American Journal of Plant Sciences,
Vol.4 No.7B,
July
15,
2013
ABSTRACT:
Verticillium dahliae induced wilt disease in strawberry
can cause severe yield losses and thus lead to inevitable negative economic impacts.
Inoculation of plants with non-pathogenic strains of Verticillium was conducted as a biologic control agent (BCA)
according to the concept that preoccupation of the ecologic niche rendered strawberry plants immune
to infection with soil-borne pathogenic Verticillium.
This concept was tested for economic viability in a field trial under
commercial conditions. Results were reported for 2 years of field trials
under practice conditions in two locations in Brandenburg, Germany. Inoculation
was shown to have a positive effect of 20% of plants, while 30% of plants
remain unaffected and of equally high vitality. However, 50%-0% of plants
were impacted negatively, showing severe wilt symptoms up to total loss. The
characteristic progression of wilt symptoms suggested an infestation caused by Phytophtora sp. and other pathogens. Further results showed that the main factor of
the side effects was caused by different qualities of plant material in
interaction to the inoculation with the BCA and only to a minor extent depended
on pre-infestation of soils. We conclude that specific conditions, such as
certified plant material or soil analysis for other pathogens besides Verticillium, avoided these side-effects
relevant for commercial farming.