Improving control of storage diseases on apple by combining biological and physical post-harvest methods

Post-harvest non-chemical treatments consists of a large range of different approaches, including strengthening of the commodity’s natural defence mechanisms, thermotherapy, application of antagonistic microorganisms and natural antimicrobial substances. NEX0101 is a promising antagonistic biocontrol agent containing the yeast Candida oleophila as the active ingredient. NEX0101 was developed by Bionext, a spin-off from the laboratory of Dr. H. Jijakli, and is currently evaluated for commercial use. The product contains a yeast strain isolated from apple fruit and was originally developed for the control of post-harvest diseases on apple. The antifungal effectiveness of this antagonist can be increased by addition of calcium salts. As the mode of action of this yeast is based on the colonisation of wounds, the mean targets of NEX0101 are blue mould, caused by Penicillium expansum, and grey mould, caused by Botrytis cinerea. Facing possible latent infections, thermotherapy by using hot water treatments could provide an advanced control towards lenticelrot (Gloeosporium spp.). A combination of both physical and biological treatment techniques could broaden the spectrum to all key pathogens on apple and pear. The use of NEX0101 for the control of P. expansum was examined in combination with calcium gluconate. According to the results the combination NEX0101 with calcium gluconate provides an advanced mould control towards P. expansum The best results were achieved using NEX0101 in combination with post-harvest dipping by thermotherapy. The hot water treatment alone was clearly inefficient towards wound parasite P. expansum, on the contrary thermotherapy stimulates the decay caused by this postharvest pathogen. For the future a combination of biological and physical treatments could offer a worthy non-chemical alternative for organic and integrated fruit growers towards fruit rot decay, although more research is necessary to implement these methods in practice

John Dearness (1852-1954) : Canadian pioneer mycologist-plant pathologist

John Dearness, un enseignant doué d'un professionalisme remarquable, fut le premier mycologue canadien reconnu internationalement, en plus d'être un pionnier autodidacte en phytopathologie. Ses habiletés à isoler et à identifier les champignons phytoparasites et son empressement à assister des phytopathologistes professionnels étaient tellement reconnus qu'il fut élu président de la division canadienne de l'American Phytopathological Society. La Société canadienne de phytopathologie, dont il fut un membre-fondateur, l'a nommé membre honoraire. Plusieurs autres honneurs lui ont été décernés en reconnaissance de sa contribution à la botanique, à la mycologie et à la phytopathologie au Canada.John Dearness, a professional educator who became the first internationally acknowledged Canadian-born mycologist, was also a largely self-taught pioneer plant pathologist. His ability to isolate and identify plant parasitic fungi, and his readiness to assist professional plant pathologists, became so widely known that he was elected President of the Canadian Division of the American Phytopathological Society. The Canadian Phytopathological Society, of which he was a charter member, made him an honorary member. Many more honors were conferred on this remarkable man in recognition of his contributions to botany, mycology, and plant pathology in Canada

150 years of teaching plant pathology at McGill University

In the 150 years between the time Sir William Dawson was lecturing on the diseases of fruit trees and vegetables, in 1856, and the plant pathology lectures given by Ajjamanda Kushalappa, in 2006, more than 29 members of the teaching staff at McGill University have given lectures that included significant amounts of plant pathology information. These were both men and women, at all academic levels, from lecturer to full professor, and on both campuses of McGill University. Their history shows that they have played a major role in Canadian plant pathology.Au cours des 150 ans qui séparent le moment où sir William Dawson donnait des cours sur les maladies des arbres fruitiers et des légumes, en 1856, et les cours de phytopathologie donnés par Ajjamanda Kushalappa, en 2006, plus de 29 membres du corps professoral de l'Université McGill ont donné des cours dont une partie importante portait sur la phytopathologie. Ces membres étaient des hommes et des femmes, à des niveaux académiques variés, allant du chargé de cours au professeur agrégé, travaillant sur les deux campus de l'Université McGill. Leur histoire montre qu'ils ont joué un rôle majeur dans la phytopathologie canadienne

Phytiatrie et fonction du phytiatre en phytoprotection

La phytiatrie est une branche de la phytoprotection dont la définition est peu claire, variable et très confuse dans la littérature. Dans cet article dont les données sont issues de sources secondaires, nous essayons de : (1) clarifier la définition des mots phytiatrie et phytiatre ; (2) préciser le contenu d’une formation de base en phytiatrie ; (3) proposer une organisation de la fonction de phytiatre. Le phytiatre (médecin de la plante), s’occupe de la gestion des maladies, des agresseurs et des traumatismes des plantes. La phytiatrie se distingue clairement de la phytopathologie, science qui étudie les maladies des plantes causées par les microorganismes et les facteurs environnementaux. Le phytiatre a des connaissances en phytopharmacie, mais n’est pas un phytopharmacien. Le diplômé en phytiatrie doit être capable d’analyser et de comprendre les exigences de la phytoprotection afin de développer et de proposer des solutions adéquates, dans un contexte de protection de l’environnement. Le grade de phytiatre devrait être réservé aux ingénieurs en phytiatrie, aux titulaires d’un Master ou d'un Doctorat / Ph.D en phytiatrie. Une meilleure structuration des formations en phytiatrie et de la fonction de phytiatre, peut contribuer à une meilleure prise en charge des affections des plantes dans les systèmes de production en Afrique. English title: Phytiatrics and function of the phytiatrist in plant protection Abstract Phytiatrics is a branch of Phytoprotection whose definition is unclear, variable and very confused in the literature. In this article, whose data come from secondary sources, we try to: (1) clarify the definition of phytiatrics and phytiatrist; (2) specify the content of basic training in phytiatrics; (3) propose an organization of the function of phytiatrist. The phytiatrist (plant medical doctor) deals with the management of plant diseases, pests and trauma. Phytiatrics is clearly distinguished from phytopathology which is the science that studies plant diseases caused by microorganisms and environmental factors. The phytiatrist has knowledge in phytopharmacy, but is not a phytopharmacist. The graduate in phytiatrics must be able to analyze and understand the requirements of phytoprotection in order to develop and propose adequate solutions, in a context of environmental protection. The rank of phytiatrist should be reserved for engineers in phytiatrics, holders of a Master’s degree or a doctorate in phytiatrics. A better structuring of training in phytiatrics and the function of phytiatrist can contribute to better management of plant ailments in plant production systems in Africa. Keywords: plant, disease, aggressors, training, phytiatrist