Abstract Detail

Biological Control of diseases and weeds (CFBC)

Boyetchko, Susan [1], Svircev, Antonet [2], Zhou, Ting [3], Audy, Patrice [4], Hynes, Russell [1], Cote, Jean-Charles [5].

Promising bacterial antagonists asbiopesticides for control of post-harvest diseases of fruits and vegetables.

Postharvest and storage diseases, caused by an assortment of fungal pathogens, can lead to approximately 20 to 25% of losses in fruits and vegetables worldwide. They significantly reduce yield and quality during production and can result in complete loss of market value during storage. Chemical fungicides are the primary means of controlling these diseases, but a major challenge is to reduce the application of synthetic pesticides while extending the shelf life of fruits and vegetables during off-peak season and long distance transportation while maintaining high quality produce. Microbial antagonists used as biopesticides have been investigated extensively for managing these diseases and are a viable option for both the industry and consumer. A 4-year project was initiated to develop biopesticides for Botrytis cinerea (Persoon) Fries, Monilinia fructicola (Winter) Honey, Phytophthora infestans (Mont) de Bary, and Penicillium expansum Link, which cause a variety of post-harvest diseases. In vitro and in vivo biosassays were used to screen several hundred bacterial strains for broad-spectrum activity against these post-harvest pathogens. Impedance tests revealed the presence of bacterial metabolites that inhibit growth of these fungi. In vivo bioassays also demonstrated the inhibitory effects of whole bacterial cultures and/or bacterial filtrate containing bacterial natural products against B. cinerea on tomato; however, application of whole bacterial culture reduced disease severity to a greater extent than bacterial filtrate alone. The formulation of bacteria in carnauba wax as a carrier proved to be a model system to apply bacteria for control of brown rot of apple and will be expanded on other post-harvest pathogens.

1 - Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Saskatoon Research Centre, 107 Science Place, Saskatoon, SK, S7N 0X2, Canada
2 - Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Vineland Research Station, 4902 Victoria Ave. N., P.O. Box 6000, Vineland, ON, L0R 2E0, Canada
3 - Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Guelph Food Research Centre, 93 Stone Road West, Guelph, ON, N1G 5C9, Canada
4 - Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Soils and Crops Research and Development Centre, 2560 Hochelaga Blvd, Quebec City, QC, G1V 2J3, Canada
5 - Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Horticulture Research Development Centre, 430 Gouin Blvd, Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, , QC, J3B 3E6, Canada

Keywords:
Biopesticide
bacteria
post-harvest
Botrytis
Monilinia
Phytophthora infestans.

Presentation Type: Oral Paper:Papers for Topics
Session: 75
Location: Salon 2/The Shaw Conference Centre
Date: Wednesday, July 29th, 2015
Time: 4:30 PM
Number: 75004
Abstract ID:1051
Candidate for Awards:None