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Compounds alone and in combination with yeasts to control Colletotrichum acutatum in apples

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Abstract

In New Zealand summer rots caused by Colletotrichum acutatum Simmonds (bitter rot) result in significant loss. This pathogen is currently controlled by fungicide sprays. This project was initiated to investigate if populations of naturally occurring yeast biological control agents could be enhanced by application of benign compounds in the field as an alternative means of control. Calcium chloride (CaCl2) and calcium carbonate (CaCO3) enhanced the biocontrol activity of applied yeasts against C. acutatum in detached fruit assays. Combining these compounds with yeasts resulted in a reduction of lesion size following inoculation by C. acutatum that was additive for some of the yeast-CaCl2 combinations and synergistic for some of the yeast-CaCO3 combinations. Calcium chloride was applied in the field in two trials conducted in different seasons and different regions. Disease incidence in the field was reduced by the application of CaCl2 in both trials. Results in a commercial orchard using CaCl2 at a rate of at 0.33 kg product /100 L were comparable to a standard fungicide spray programme. Investigation of the mode of action suggests direct fungistatic suppression by CaCl2, although there was evidence that treatment with CaCl2 increased resistance to infection in one apple variety.

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Acknowledgments

We thank Arier Lee and Sweta Baldawa for additional statistical advice. Thanks to Warwick Mottram (Lincoln University) for field assistance and Sunfruit Orchards (Rukuhia) for support. The New Zealand Foundation for Research Science and Technology (now the Ministry for Business, Innovation, and Employment) funded this project (C06X0302).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. The New Zealand Institute for Plant & Food Research Limited (Plant & Food Research), Private Bag 4704, Christchurch Mail Centre, Christchurch, 8140, New Zealand

    Kirsty S. H. Boyd-Wilson & Ruth C. Butler

  2. Plant & Food Research, Old Mill Road, RD3, Motueka, 7198, New Zealand

    Peter A. Alspach & Monika Walter

  3. Plant & Food Research, Private Bag 92169, Mt Albert, Auckland, 1142, New Zealand

    Kerry R. Everett & I. P. Shamini Pushparajah

Authors
  1. Kirsty S. H. Boyd-Wilson
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  2. Ruth C. Butler
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  3. Peter A. Alspach
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  4. Kerry R. Everett
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  5. I. P. Shamini Pushparajah
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  6. Monika Walter
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Kirsty S. H. Boyd-Wilson.

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Boyd-Wilson, K.S.H., Butler, R.C., Alspach, P.A. et al. Compounds alone and in combination with yeasts to control Colletotrichum acutatum in apples. Australasian Plant Pathol. 43, 703–714 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13313-014-0311-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13313-014-0311-x

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