Artificial light quality changes colonization ability of biocontrol agents under greenhouse conditions

Abstract

Integrated pest control measures are important in order to cope with fungal foliar pathogens in greenhouse settings. Biocontrol agents (BCA) play an important role in this context, but disease control results obtained in laboratory experiments cannot always be repeated in larger greenhouse settings. Impaired dispersal and establishment of BCAs on leaves and sites of action may be among the causes for failing efficacy. We studied the role of basic mechanisms for BCAs' efficacy under greenhouse conditions, namely dispersal and establishment. In the first experiment three BCAs from three commercial products were applied by foliar spray to greenhouse-grown tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum L.) and begonias (Begonia x hiemalis). Leaves were harvested according to a pre-determined time schedule and the viable BCA cells were quantified by plate count. In the second experiment tomatoes were sprayed and exposed to an array of wavelengths (dfull spectrum, 420, 530 and 660 nm) and followed during 48 h post inoculation (hpi). We found that the BCAs lifestyle choices varied depending on light quality and target crop. These appear to be decisive parameters for BCA dispersal and establishment on leaves.

Keywords

begonia; biocontrol agents; controlled environment agriculture; LED; tomatoes

Published in

Acta Horticulturae
2023, volume: 1377, pages: 299-306
Title: Proceedings of the International Symposium on Innovative Technologies and Production Strategies for Sustainable Controlled Environment Horticulture
Publisher: International Society for Horticultural Science

Conference

XXXI International Horticultural Congress (IHC2022): International Symposium on Innovative Technologies and Production Strategies for Sustainable Controlled Environment Horticulture, August 14, 2022 - August 20, 2022, Angers, France

SLU Authors

• Hellström, Maria

  • Department of Biosystems and Technology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Karlsson, Maria

  • Department of Biosystems and Technology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Kleman, Isabella

  • Department of Biosystems and Technology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Bergstrand, Karl-Johan

  • Department of Biosystems and Technology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Alsanius, Beatrix

  • Department of Biosystems and Technology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

Associated SLU-program

SLU Plant Protection Network

UKÄ Subject classification

Horticulture

Publication identifier

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2023.1377.36
• ISBN: 978-94-62613-77-5
• eISBN: 978-94-62613-77-5

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/126909