Phytoparasitica (1999) 27, 81-82

Y. Elad, B. Kirshner, D. Rav David, A. Bar-Tal, A. Silber, E. Fischer, A.J. Dik, T. Freidkin, Y. Murira and M. Gokkes (1999)
Control of fungal diseases of roses
Phytoparasitica 27 (1), 81-82
Workshop on Environment-Friendly Crop Protection of the Flower Industry to Suit Future Market Trends, October 19-22, 1998, Herzliyya, Israel
Abstract: The quality of flowers exported from Israel to Europe is constantly threatened by pathogens, mainly Botrytis cinerea. B. cinerea causes restricted lesions on petals or spreading rot on petals, leaves and stems. The problem occurs mainly during winter and flowers bearing visible symptoms are discarded. However, latent infection may be symptomless with visible symptoms developing only after shipment and handling. The intensive efforts invested in controlling greenhouse climate have resulted in a lower rate of visible symptoms during harvest and the predominance of latent infection hidden in flowers. Several approaches are currently being studied (mostly within the framework of Dutch-Israeli cooperation - DIARP) in order to reduce flower contamination and aggressive disease development. In a study of the effect on rose plants of regulating calcium concentration through the fertigation regime in the greenhouse, it was found that susceptibility of flowers to Botrytis blight decreased with increasing Ca concentration in the solution. Addition of nighttime irrigation and of boron fertilization in a low-Ca treatment also reduced flower susceptibility. Biological control of B. cinerea infection of flowers results in suppression of flower blight at low temperatures (2-10°C) and high vapor pressure deficits, and in good survival of the biocontrol agent on petals. Electron micrographs were utilized to illustrate the interaction between the biocontrol agent and B. cinerea on rose petals. Loading flowers with gibberellic acid and citric acid followed by Nadichloroisocyanurate resulted in decreased Botrytis blight of cv. 'Mercedes' roses and in variable results with other cultivars.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Database assignments for author(s): Yigal Elad

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
control - general

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Botrytis cinerea		Israel