Effects of changes in the fertigation on the quality of strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa Duch.) fruits and possible effect on the mortality of plants

Motivation: Strawberry fruits are considered as healthy fruits. In fruit production, the major emphasis is being given to improve the quality of product along with higher production (Pandey et al., 2015). The strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa Duch.) is considered to be a crop that is very sensitive to salinity (Barroso et al., 1997). Furthermore, when strawberry crop is under salinity stress, an increase in fruit quality, mainly sugar and phenolic compounds, is observed (Medrano et al., 2012). Strawberry has low tolerance to high concentrations of chlorine and sodium, which produce burns in the marginal area of the leaves. Generally, salinity reduces both, fruit size and yield. In this sense strawberry balanced fertilisation is essential for high quality and production (Aguado et al., 2017). This work aimed to distinguish if changes of conductivity in the fertirrigation affect the quality of the strawberry (mainly brix degrees), yield and plant mortality.Methods and results: A field trial was conducted on a strawberry production field located in Moguer (Huelva). Two strawberry cultivars (‘Primoris’ and ‘Florida-Fortuna’) and eight fertirrigation treatments were applied in a split-plot design. Irrigation water samples were monthly analysed, from February to May, fruit samples were taken and quality parameters were measured. Accumulated yield and percentage of plant mortality were registered

Physiological, genetic, and pathogenetic variability in Macrophomina phaseolina, the causal agent of charcoal rot

Motivation: Macrophomina phaseolina (Tassi) Goidanich is a primarily soilborne pathogen with a wide distribution, variedhost range, great longevity and high competitive saprophytic ability (Babu et al., 2010). About 500 plant diseases are causedby this fungus (Su et al., 2001), and it is often termed ‘charcoal rot’. Charcoal rot has emerged as an important disease instrawberry production systems that have abandoned soil fumigation with methyl bromide (Mertely et al., 2005; Zveibil andFreeman, 2005; Aviles et al., 2008). Although, only one species (M. phaseolina) is recognized within the genus Macrophomina(Sutton, 1980), the high levels of morphological variability of M. phaseolina across different hosts and geographical regionssuggest that this species may be divided into subgroups (Aboshosha et al., 2007; Beas-Fernández et al., 2006; Hawatema yHameed, 2006; Karunanithi et al., 1999; Mayek-Pérez et al., 1997; Mihail y Taylor, 1995; Omar et al., 2007). This work aimedto study the population structure of M. phaseolina associated with strawberry crop in Huelva, and to characterize the isolateswith respect to in vitro growth rate, genotypic variability, and pathogenicity to strawberry plants.Methods and results: Twenty two isolates of M. phaseolina from strawberry, blueberry, watermelon and rice are tested in thiswork. The morphological characteristics of the isolates are investigated, including colony phenotype on medium containing 120mM potassium chlorate (Pearson et al., 1986), and relative growth rate at different temperatures and pH (Beas-Fernandez etal., 2006; Mayek-Perez et al., 1997). Pathogenicity test are carried out under controlled conditions. Mono-sclerotic cultures ofthe fungus were obtained for molecular characterization

Potential Bacterial Antagonists for the Control of Charcoal Rot (Macrophomina phaseolina) in Strawberry

The effect of antagonistic bacteria to control Macrophomina phaseolina was evaluated under in vitro, growth chamber, greenhouse and field conditions. A total of 177 bacteria, isolated from Athrocaulon macrostachyum rhizosphere of the Lebrija marsh, were screened for their potential against M. phaseolina (causes charcoal rot in strawberry) by dual culture assay. Of these isolates, 14 most promising strains were molecularly identified by the 16S rDNA sequencing method using the EzBioCloud database. These strains were tested for in vitro hydrolytic enzymes, HCN production, and biocontrol against M. phaseolina in strawberry plants. All the 14 strains produced, at least, one hydrolytic enzymatic activity and one of them, which belongs to Brevibacterium genus (Hvs8), showed the lowest records of disease incidence (20%) and severity (0.4). With these results, greenhouse and field trials were carried out with the Hvs8 strain, compared to non-treated control. In the greenhouse assays, Hvs8 strain increased root dry mass by 30%, over the control. In the field trials, production and fruit quality were not significantly different between Hvs8 treatment and non-treated control, but plant mortality and plant mortality associated to M. phaseolina decreased by more than 24% and 65% respectively, in Hvs8 treatment. This study suggests that Brevibacterium sp. Hvs8 strain could be a candidate for controlling charcoal rot in strawberry.EEA FamailláFil: Viejobueno, Josefina. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Famaillá; ArgentinaFil: Rodríguez-Berbel, Natalia. University of Almeria. Department of Agronomy & Center for Intensive Mediterranean Agronomy and Agri-Food Biotechnology (CIAIMBITAL); EspañaFil: Miranda, Luis. Instituto Andaluz de Investigación y Formación Agraria, Pesquera, Alimentaria y de la Producción Ecológica; EspañaFil: Santos, Berta de los. Instituto Andaluz de Investigación y Formación Agraria, Pesquera, Alimentaria y de la Producción Ecológica; EspañaFil: Camacho, María. Instituto Andaluz de Investigación y Formación Agraria, Pesquera, Alimentaria y de la Producción Ecológica; Españ

Protection of Strawberry Plants against Charcoal Rot Disease (Macrophomina phaseolina) Induced by Azospirillum brasilense

Some Plant Growth-Promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR) can induce protection against pathogens, increasing plant tolerance to various diseases. This so-called biocontrol activity is replacing harmful practices in agriculture caused by the use of agrochemicals. Azospirillum brasilense is one of the PGPR already effectively used as a resistance inducer in several crops. The aim of this study was to evaluate the protective effect of PGPR A. brasilense strains isolated from strawberry and petunia plants (REC3, 2A1, 2A2, and 2E1) against the fungal pathogen Macrophomina phaseolina, which is the causal agent of the strawberry charcoal rot disease. In vitro antagonism assays and enzymatic tests on Petri dishes revealed no direct inhibition on M. phaseolina growth by any of the A. brasilense strains. However, strawberry plants treated with REC3 and 2A1 strains increased callose and lignin deposition and stomatal closure compared to untreated plants. In addition, treatments with either bacterial strains induced a defense response in strawberry plants against virulent isolates of M. phaseolina evidenced by an increased tolerance to the charcoal rot disease. These results suggest that A. brasilense REC3 and 2A1 strains can be used for the activation of innate immunity in strawberry plants as a strategy for managing charcoal rot in a sustainable and environmentally friendly way.EEA FamailláFil: Viejobueno, Josefina. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Famaillá; ArgentinaFil: Albornoz, Patricia Liliana. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales; ArgentinaFil: Albornoz, Patricia Liliana. Fundación Miguel Lillo; ArgentinaFil: Camacho, María. Instituto de Investigación y Formación Agraria y Pesquera; EspañaFil: Santos, Berta de los. Instituto de Investigación y Formación Agraria y Pesquera; EspañaFil: Martinez Zamora, Martin Gustavo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Instituto Superior de Investigaciones Biológicas; ArgentinaFil: Martinez Zamora, Martin Gustavo. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Instituto Superior de Investigaciones Biológicas; ArgentinaFil: Salazar, Sergio Miguel. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Famaillá; ArgentinaFil: Salazar, Sergio Miguel. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Agronomía y Zootecnia; Argentin

Procedimiento para la obtención de una solución favorecedora del crecimiento de plantas a partir de aguas de lavado del proceso de elaboración de aceitunas verdes estilo español y uso de dicha solución

La presente invención se refiere a un procedimiento para la obtención de una solución favorecedora del crecimiento de plantas a partir de aguas de lavado del proceso de elaboración de aceitunas verdes estilo español o sevillano, caracterizado porque comprende las siguientes etapas: (a) acidificación del agua de lavado hasta un valor de pH inferior a 3 unidades; (b) almacenamiento del agua en condiciones anaeróbicas; y (c) elevación del pH del concentrado hasta un valor superior a 4 unidades. Así mismo se refiere a la solución obtenida a partir de dicho procedimiento y a su uso para favorecer el crecimiento de plantas.Peer reviewedConsejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (España), Instituto Andaluz de Investigación y Formación Agraria, Pesquera, Alimentaria y de la Producción EcológicaA1 Solicitud de patente con informe sobre el estado de la técnic

In vitro analysis of the efficacy of fungicides and biological control agents against pathogenic fungi of strawberries.

Strawberries are a crucial product globally, the Huelva region stands out in Spanish production, where this crop is continually threatened by soil-borne pathogens that can significantly reduce yields. To address this problem, in this area, soil disinfestation with fumigant agrochemicals has been the main strategy. However, the continued reduction in the use of certain active substancies is limiting control possibilities, and disease problems persist [1,2]. For instance, charcoal rot, caused by Macrophomina phaseolina, is one of the most damaging diseases, with 32.9% of plots treated to control it during the 2022-2023 campaign [3].In the present work, two in vitro approaches were evaluated for controlling fungal pathogens. The first strategy was the poisoned medium technique [4], an in vitro analysis of the efficacy of five fungicides against five strawberry pathogens: M. phaseolina, F. solani, N. clavispora, and two isolates of F. oxysporum. This assay aimed to effectively inhibit pathogen growth through fungicide action. The lethal dose 50 (LD50) was calculated. The second one followed a biological control strategy, and was divided into two experiments. On one hand, dual in vitro confrontations were conducted between pathogenic fungi and various Trichoderma isolates to assess their biological control capacity [5]. On the other hand, the antagonist activity of Trichoderma was evaluated by cultivating on culture medium with a sterile cellophane sheet, which was subsequently removed for pathogen inoculation [6]. The objective was to identify pathogen inhibition of these antagonists by competence and/or production of inhibitory substances.Within the framework of the in vitro strategy for fungicide efficacy evaluation, M. phaseolina had the most favorable results, exhibiting low LD50 doses and, in some cases, complete growth inhibition. In addition, positive effects of the fungicide composed of propiconazole and tebuconazole were also observed in all five evaluated fungi. Regarding to biological control assays, overgrowth in dual culture and high growth inhibition percentages were registered for some Trichoderma isolates, which could be indicative of potential as a biological control agent against these pathogens.In summary, these findings indicindicate: (i) a significant sensitivity of M. phaseolina to the fungicides employed (ii) the potential of some Trichoderma isolates as alternative for controlling these pathogens

Characterization of infection and colonization of strawberry crowns by colletotrichum acutatum

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/284250872_Characterization_of_infection_and_colonization_of_strawberry_crowns_by_Colletotrichum_acutatumStrawberry anthracnose, caused by Colletotrichum acutatum J.H. Simmonds, is one of the most important diseases of this crop in Huelva (southwestern Spain). Lesions can occur on all parts of the plant but anthracnose crown rot is specially severe leading to wilt and death of plants. In this work, the infection and colonization process of C. acutatum on strawberry plants was studied. 'Camarosa' strawberry plants (highly susceptible to C. acutatum) were inoculated by applying 100 μl droplets of a conidia suspension of the fungus on crowns, on buds and between second and third stipules. Plants were evaluated for response over a 30 days period. The severity of disease, estimated as percentage of plants showing symptoms on aerial parts, and the amount of infected crown tissues were determined at 2, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30 days after inoculation. Depending on the inoculation site the severity of anthracnose crown rot varied between plants. Moreover, an ultrastructural study of infected plants exhibiting anthracnose crown rot was carried out by transmission electron microscopy. The colonization of the crown tissues by intracellular and intercellular hyphae in the cortex, medulla and vascular system was observed resulting in cell colapse and necrosis

Caracterización morfológica, cultural y molecular de aislados de Macrophomina phaseolina de España y Argentina

Macrophomina phaseolina es un hongo de suelo necrotrófico, agente causal de la podredumbre carbonosa de raíz y corona que afecta a más de 500 especies de plantas. El objetivo del presente trabajo fue caracterizar morfológica, cultural y molecularmente 32 aislados de M. phaseolina procedentes de España y Argentina, obtenidos de diferentes hospedantes: fresa, girasol, soja, judía, arándano y cáñamo. La caracterización se realizó a partir de los cultivos puros y se determinó la resistencia a clorato y el crecimiento a distintas temperaturas y pH. Para la caracterización molecular se extrajo ADN, se amplificaron 4 regiones del mismo y se realizó un árbol filogenético. En la caracterización según resistencia a clorato, no se vio un patrón de asociación con respecto al país o cultivo de procedencia de los aislados. Los 3 aislados más sensibles al mismo provenían de fresa, arándano y girasol. La temperatura media óptima de crecimiento estuvo entre 30 y 35ºC. El único aislado que presentó una temperatura óptima de crecimiento menor fue el procedente de judía. El rango de pH medio óptimo de crecimiento de los aislados estuvo entre 5 y 6. Hubo 3 aislados que presentaron pH óptimo de 4 y uno de 8. En cuanto a la caracterización molecular, se encontró muy poca variabilidad genética entre los aislados, sin observarse agrupación por país o cultivo de procedencia en el árbol filogenético. Todos fueron identificados como Macrophomina phaseolina salvo el aislado de judía, que se agrupó junto con los aislados de Macropomina pseudophaseolina. La gran variabilidad obtenida en los parámetros analizados dificulta la clasificación de este hongo en subespecies.EEA FamailláFil: Viejobueno, Josefina. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Famaillá; ArgentinaFil: Medina, J.J. Instituto de Investigación y Formación Agraria y Pesquera. Centro IFAPA Huelva; EspañaFil: Aguado, A. Instituto de Investigación y Formación Agraria y Pesquera; EspañaFil: Camacho, María. Instituto de Investigación y Formación Agraria y Pesquera; EspañaFil: Camacho-Sánchez, M. Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos; PortugalFil: Salazar, Sergio Miguel. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Famaillá; ArgentinaFil: Salazar, Sergio Miguel. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Agronomía y Zootecnia; ArgentinaFil: Santos, Berta de los. Instituto de Investigación y Formación Agraria y Pesquera; Españ

Development of Colletotrichum acutatum in the Foliar Tissue of Strawberry Plants

Strawberry anthracnose, caused by Colletotrichum acutatum, is one of the most destructive disease of this crop throughout the world. Assymptomatic stages in the plant have been the aim of this work. Inoculated leaves samples were taken at different times and they were processed for scanner electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Conidial development on both surfaces leaves was determined. The ultrastructural study of fungus penetration into plant cell was characterized by the formation of vesicles over the fungus periphery and is a morphological parameter of the intense membranes traffic, also could be a evidence of a transcriptional activity and enzymatic cell secretion. Differences of symptoms on both surfaces of leaves were observed

Copernicus Marine Service ocean state report, issue 4

This is the final version. Available from Taylor & Francis via the DOI in this record. FCT/MCTE