Co-infection based disease management for fruit and tree crops

Overview

This research addresses a critical insight in plant pathology: fruit and tree diseases are frequently caused by co-infections involving multiple pathogens rather than a single agent. By leveraging this characteristic, the team is developing novel integrated disease management strategies tailored for co-infection scenarios. The work focuses on major fruit and tree crops including pear, apple, and crabapple, targeting trunk and fruit diseases that cause significant agricultural losses.

Technical specifications

Key research activities and capabilities:

• Isolation and identification of fungal and bacterial pathogens from diseased pear, apple, and crabapple samples collected across multiple regions in China
• Screening of fungicides derived from herbal plants as environmentally conscious alternatives to conventional chemical treatments
• Testing of fungicide combinations with beneficial microorganisms to evaluate synergistic control effects
• Focus on trunk diseases caused by Cytospora spp. and Botryosphaeria spp. as priority targets

Validation progress to date:

• Five pear trunk diseased samples collected from Xinjiang with multiple fungi and bacteria isolated from all samples
• Eleven crabapple trunk diseased samples collected from Beijing with more than one fungus identified in 8 of 11 samples
• More than 200 apple diseased fruit samples collected from Beijing, Shandong, and Shaanxi, with multiple fungi isolated from approximately 20% of samples

Technology readiness level

The research is currently at an early-to-mid stage of development. Initial sample collection and pathogen isolation have been completed, demonstrating that co-infections occur widely in field conditions. The team is now preparing for expanded validation, planning to collect no less than 100 additional diseased apple trunk samples over the next one to two years. Future work includes testing control efficacy of different fungicide types and combinations with beneficial microorganisms. The team is seeking partnership support for research on fungicide absorption and conduction in trees and funding for key personnel.