France
May 29, 2009
Source:
INRA
Researchers in the Plant
Pathology Unit in Avignon, working in collaboration with
scientists from the Population Biology and Management Centre in
Montpellier, have demonstrated that it is possible to combine
several biological protection methods applicable to the
greenhouse production of tomatoes: the fungus Microdochium
dimerum against Botrytis cinerea, the fungus Lecancicillium
lecanii against greenhouse whitefly and a plant extract, from
giant knotweed, against mildew.
The French government has recently decided to halve the quantity
of pesticides used in France between now and 2030. To achieve
this target, it is necessary to find effective alternatives.
Biological protection methods make use of living organisms –
micro-organisms, insects or other auxiliary invertebrates – or
substances of natural origin (e.g. plant extracts) whose action
on pests is generally specific and often complex. It is thus
necessary to verify that the different control strategies
applicable to a given crop are compatible.
Previous studies undertaken since 1990 in the Unit had shown
that strain L13 of the fungus Microdochium dimerum was very
effective in protecting pruning wounds on tomato plants against
attack from Botrytis cinerea in the greenhouse. Scientists
studied the compatibility of this control method with two other
biological methods already available on the market: the fungus
Lecanicillium lecanii, which is active against greenhouse
whitefly (approved and marketed in France under the name
Mycotal), and an extract of giant knotweed, effective against
mildew (a product that has not yet been granted an authorisation
in France but is marketed in other European countries under the
name Milsana). Trials were performed under climate-controlled
conditions on pot-produced tomato plants used at the stage of 8
open leaves.
This work demonstrated that the three biological protection
products were compatible and could be applied together or under
an alternating regime to a tomato crop. The results were
promising: it is now possible to envisage effective, organic or
integrated control on greenhouse-grown tomatoes, alongside other
measures.
INRA has granted the company Agrauxine an operating license for
the Microdochium dimerum strain so that it can develop and
market an effective product, AntiBot, that will be accessible to
the largest number of producers.
Scientific contact :
Marc Bardin
Plant Pathology Unit UR407.
INRA Domaine Saint-Maurice
BP 94
84143 MONTFAVET CEDEX
Tel: +33(0)4 32 72 28 55
Fax: +33(0)4 32 72 28 42
Marc.Bardin@avignon.inra.fr
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