Assessing biological fungicide benefits to wild blueberry health

This project’s goal is to provide an assessment of the efficacy and the physiological and molecular effects of a biological fungicide, Serenade® (a.i. Bacillus amy/o/iquefaciens QST713, previously subtilis}, in rotation with other conventional foliar fungicides when treating Botrytis cinerea infection in wild lowbush blueberry crops. During the reproductive year of blueberry growth, the pathogenic fungi Botrytis cinerea can cause regular and devastating losses by infecting blossoms which directly reduces berry yields. With increasing global temperatures, more frequent rainfall, and an increase in infection events in the Atlantic region, the climate that supports the sporulation and growth of this disease will continue to expand. The results of this study will be relevant to individual growers, industry and inform for Canadian exports because there is an increasing requirement to limit chemical residues on exports to key countries such as the European Union. The benefits of incorporating biological fungicides in rotation with current products have yet to be fully understood. The efficacy and additional benefits of Serenade® will be assessed through evaluating plant health and performance over two field seasons. The upregulation of pathogenesis-related and defense genes caused by fungicide-plant interactions will be defined through bioassays.

Faculty Supervisor:

David Percival

Student:

Partner:

Bragg Lumber Company Limited

Discipline:

Earth science

Sector:

Agriculture

University:

Dalhousie University

Program: