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Assessment of Chemical and Biological Fungicides for the Control of Diplodia mutila Causing Wood Necrosis in Hazelnut

Summary

This study tested different fungicides to control a fungus that causes wood damage and necrosis in hazelnut trees in Chile. Researchers evaluated 30 different products in laboratory tests, pot experiments, and field trials over two growing seasons. The results showed that certain chemical fungicides and beneficial bacteria can effectively reduce damage from this disease, with effectiveness varying based on temperature conditions. These findings provide farmers with practical options for protecting hazelnut orchards from this damaging fungal disease.

Background

Fungal trunk disease (FTD) poses a significant threat to hazelnut production worldwide. In Chile, the fungus Diplodia mutila from the Botryosphaeriaceae family has been frequently identified causing vascular necrosis in hazelnut orchards in the Maule and Ñuble Regions. However, control measures for D. mutila remain limited.

Objective

This research aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of chemical and biological fungicides against D. mutila under in vitro, controlled pot experiment, and field conditions to develop management strategies for this wood-necrotizing pathogen in hazelnut.

Results

Three biological and five chemical fungicides showed >31% inhibition in vitro. In pot experiments, all fungicides reduced necrotic lesions by 32-61%. In field trials, the most effective systemic fungicides were fluopyram/tebuconazole, fluxapyroxad/pyraclostrobin, and tebuconazole, while biological agents Pseudomonas protegens ChC7 and Bacillus subtilis QST713 showed variable effectiveness depending on seasonal temperatures.

Conclusion

Both conventional chemical fungicides and biological control agents can effectively reduce D. mutila-induced damage in hazelnut. Integration of effective fungicides with proper monitoring of environmental conditions, particularly temperature and rainfall, could be incorporated into disease management programs to protect hazelnut wounds from infections.
  • Published in:Plants (Basel),
  • Study Type:Field Trial and Experimental Study,
  • Source: PMID: 39409622, DOI: 10.3390/plants13192753
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