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Evaluation of electrolyzed water to control fungal trunk pathogens in grapevine nurseries

Summary

Growers struggle with fungal diseases that infect grapevine nurseries, reducing the quality of planting material. Researchers tested electrolyzed water—a solution made from salt and water using electricity—as a sustainable treatment for infected grapevine cuttings. Laboratory tests showed the treatment effectively killed fungal spores and reduced fungal growth. Field trials at a commercial nursery confirmed that treating cuttings with electrolyzed water reduced certain grapevine diseases without harming plant growth.

Background

Fungal trunk pathogens (FTPs) cause significant economic losses in grapevine production worldwide. Grapevine nurseries struggle to ensure FTP-free stock due to multiple infection opportunities during propagation. Integrated strategies combining several control methods have been indicated as the best approach to prevent or reduce infections.

Objective

To determine the effect of electrolyzed water (EW) on conidial germination and mycelial growth of fungal trunk pathogens associated with different grapevine trunk diseases. To evaluate the efficacy of EW to reduce infections caused by FTPs on grapevine planting material during the propagation process in a commercial nursery.

Results

In vitro experiments demonstrated >95% conidia germination inhibition for all pathogens after 15 seconds exposure to EW products. Nursery trials in 2023 showed statistically significant reduction in Petri and black-foot disease incidence in EW-treated plants compared to untreated controls. No negative effects on plant viability were observed, and EW did not reduce Botryosphaeria dieback incidence.

Conclusion

Electrolyzed water treatments show promising applications in the grapevine nursery process for preventing and reducing infections caused by fungal trunk pathogens. EW could be integrated with other complementary management strategies and extended to nurseries of other fruit and nut crops where FTPs are emerging diseases.
  • Published in:Pest Management Science,
  • Study Type:Experimental Study,
  • Source: 10.1002/ps.8568, PMID: 39628137
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