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Effect of aerated compost tea on grapevine powdery mildew, botrytis bunch rot and microbial abundance on leaves
journal contribution
posted on 2023-05-17, 08:36 authored by Katherine EvansKatherine Evans, Palmer, AK, Metcalf, DAAerated compost tea (ACT), prepared from immature compost, was applied to foliage and fruit of grapevines (Vitis vinifera) to assess its potential for suppressing two important diseases: botrytis bunch rot, caused by Botrytis cinerea, and powdery mildew, caused by Erysiphe necator. An ACT applied to leaves of Cabernet Sauvignon vines in pots 7 days before inoculation with E. necator conidia reduced mean powdery mildew severity on the three youngest expanded leaves (at inoculation) to less than 1%; mean severity on non-treated, inoculated leaves was 15%. Multiple applications of ACTs at two vineyards in different growing seasons suppressed powdery mildew to < 1% mean severity on Chardonnay leaves (non-treated 79% severity) and bunches (non-treated 77% severity), and on Riesling leaves (non-treated 24% severity). The same treatments reduced the incidence of Chardonnay bunches with latent B. cinerea and Riesling bunches with sporulating B. cinerea, although the level of botrytis bunch rot in both experiments was not economically damaging. The numbers of culturable bacteria, fungi and yeasts on Chardonnay leaves were higher than pre-treatment levels 10 days after ACT application, as were fungal numbers on Riesling leaves 21 days after treatment. Suppression by ACTs of two fruit and foliar pathogens of grapevine with different biology and epidemiology indicated potential for their use as a tactic in integrated disease management. Further testing of ACTs is warranted in a range of viticultural environments and application regimes to fully understand the impact of this tactic on disease, grape and wine quality.
Funding
Australian Research Council
History
Publication title
European Journal of Plant PathologyVolume
135Issue
4Pagination
661-673ISSN
0929-1873Department/School
Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture (TIA)Publisher
Springer NetherlandsPlace of publication
VanGodewijckstraat30,Dordrecht, Netherlands,3311GXRights statement
Copyright 2012 KNPVRepository Status
- Restricted