Public Funding for Eden Research PLC

Control of soilborne pathogens such as Verticillium wilt has become a major problem in UK horticulture since withdrawal of the broad-spectrum chemical fumigant methyl bromide. A previous project involving the RTO's investigated biofumigant green crops as replacements for methyl bromide. Cultivation and incorporation of biofumigant crops proved difficult, but a brassica seed meal soil amendment and lavender byproducts were highly effective against Verticillium wilt in strawberry. Various isothiocyanates in the former and monoterpenoid compounds in the latter were identified as the active chemicals. This project will exploit this knowledge to develop novel biofumigant products for control of soilborne diseases, particularly Verticillium wilt in strawberry, but with potential application to a much wider range of crops including raspberry, potato and cotton. Firstly, microencapsulation technology will be adapted to develop a slow-release formulation of the biocidal terpenoid compounds in lavender and delivery systems appropriate for use by growers. Secondly, the possibility of producing a novel, pelletised formulation of lavender waste will be investigated as an alternative for organic growers. These and the brassica seed meal product will be evaluated in the laboratory and in several field sites for their efficacy against Verticillium wilt in strawberry, alone and in combination. Their effects on other soil-borne pathogens and non-target organisms will also be determined. The project will provide optimised strategies for using these new products in practice under different levels of pathogen inoculum and various soil moisture conditions.

Free Living Nematodes (FLN) are emerging as a major problem for UK potato growers, exacerbated in the short term by removal of approved nematicides and in the long-term by expected population increases due to climate change. FLN cause direct damage by feeding on potato roots reducing yields and quality, and indirectly by transmitting Tobacco Rattle Virus (TRV). Relatively low levels of TRV infections can render entire crops unsaleable, both for the fresh and the processing industries. Current knowledge estimates the total loss to the UK potato industry to be >£13m p.a. FLN comprise a range of different taxonomic groups that are difficult to distinguish visually but vary significantly in terms of their distribution, pathogenicity and virus transmission frequencies, and have been to date under-studied in the UK. The problem is further compounded by beneficial and pathogenic FLN species co-existing, and thus accurate discrimination is essential. This project brings together a consortium of companies with a grower base of over 500 growers invloved in ware potato production seed both for use in the UK and export. In addition, a number of companies with potential methods for controlling FLN populations are included as partners. For the first time, a molecular diagnostic capable of distinguishing between the three main groups of FLN of interest will be developed, validated and deployed. This will be used to assess direct FLN feeding damage on a selection of commercial potato varieties as well as study effects on tuber quality and transmission of virus. In parallel, molecular markers will be developed to facilitate the breeding of new potato varieties with resistance to TRV.