Evaluation of electrolyzed water to control fungal trunk pathogens in grapevine nurseries
- Author: mycolabadmin
- 12/3/2024
- View Source
Summary
Scientists tested a new disinfection treatment called electrolyzed water on grapevine nursery plants to prevent fungal infections. The treatment uses a simple process of mixing water, salt, and electricity to create a natural disinfectant. Tests showed the treatment effectively reduced fungal infections in young grapevines without harming the plants, offering grape growers a promising new way to protect their nursery stock.
Background
Fungal trunk pathogens (FTPs) cause significant economic losses in grapevine production worldwide. Grapevine nurseries face challenges controlling FTP infections during the propagation process. Electrolyzed water (EW) has emerged as a sustainable alternative for disinfection in various agricultural applications.
Objective
To determine the effect of EW on conidial germination and mycelial growth of multiple FTPs associated with different grapevine trunk diseases. To evaluate the efficacy of EW in reducing infections caused by FTPs on grapevine planting material during the nursery propagation process.
Results
In vitro experiments demonstrated EW products reduced conidial germination by >95% within 15 seconds for all pathogens tested. EW-treated plants showed lower incidence of Petri and black-foot associated pathogens compared to untreated controls, with statistically significant differences in 2023. No negative effects on plant viability were observed in either nursery experiment.
Conclusion
EW treatments show promise for controlling Petri and black-foot diseases in grapevine nurseries, particularly during the hydration stage. EW could be integrated with other complementary integrated pest management strategies and potentially extended to nurseries of other fruit and nut crops with fungal trunk disease problems.
- Published in:Pest Management Science,
- Study Type:Experimental Study,
- Source: 10.1002/ps.8568, PMID: 39628137