Develop integrated management of bacterial canker disease for greenhouse tomato

Greenhouse industry is an important agricultural sector in Canada. Approximately half of the Canadian vegetables is produced in commercial greenhouses. Ontario greenhouse industry contributes to 40% of greenhouse production in Canada. As one of the most important greenhouse crops, tomato production is threatened by canker disease leading to significant loss for growers. Tomato canker disease is caused by Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. michiganensis (Cmm), a Gram-positive bacterium. This is a very difficult plant disease to eradicate or manage. In this proposal, the academic supervisor Dr. Ze-Chun Yuan and the participating intern will work closely with Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growers (OGVG, the partner organization) to develop integrated strategies based on natural chemicals and biological controls to reduce and manage tomato canker disease. The proposed research may also help improve tomato production and quality, nutritional value and flavor, thereby enhancing the market value and profit/revenue for greenhouse growers in Ontario and Canada.

Faculty Supervisor:

Ze-Chun Yuan

Student:

Peng Liu

Partner:

Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growers

Discipline:

Biology

Sector:

Life sciences

University:

Western University