6533b823fe1ef96bd127f1ca

RESEARCH PRODUCT

Fusarium wilt of cyclamen : early detection and biocontrol

subject

description

Fusarium wilt of cyclamen is one of the most damaging diseases of cyclamen. The causal agent, Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cyclaminis, is a soil-borne fungus. Losses can reach more than 50 % of the production. Several methods of control are available, but none of them offer an efficient and environmentally friendly solution. In this context, a project was developed in collaboration with the French institute of horticulture, Astredhor, which represents the producers, the INRA of Dijon, for its expertise on F. oxysporum and the company Agrene for its expertise in biological control. The project has two goals: i) design a molecular marker specific of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cyclaminis allowing a better management of the disease, ii) identify one or several efficient biological control agents.A collection of strains representative of the diversity of F. oxysporum f. sp. cyclaminis populations was made up with strains from international collections and isolates collected from symptomatic and asymptomatic cyclamens. A molecular study of the collection demonstrated the high genetic diversity of the forma specialis, which makes the identification of a specific molecular marker more complicated. However, a specific DNA fragment was identified by random amplified polymorphic DNA. A primer pairs was designed and a specific tool of detection was developed. Thanks to this tool, it is now possible to detect the fungus in planta by conventional and real-time PCR.Simultaneously, a broad literature analysis on the biocontrol of ornamental plant diseases caused by F. oxysporum was performed. The review emphasized that biocontrol of F. oxysporum encompassed both microbial biocontrol agents and botanicals. To avoid the laborious and time-consuming screening step, we decided to assess the antagonistic activity of seven commercial products containing bacteria, fungi or a combination of both microorganisms. Greenhouse trials were performed under conditions similar to those of the production. First trial led to the exclusion of the less efficient products. Other trials were conducted with the three remaining products. Disease reduction was obtained with one of these products although it must be validated in production.Finally, the molecular tool of detection will allow producers to insure the health status of the culture. In addition, the efficient biocontrol agent identified will prevent the disease progress for a while but more investigations are needed to obtain reliable, efficient and sustainable biocontrol agents. Proposals to improve Fusarium wilt control are discussed.