Wild blueberry physiological and molecular responses to floral diseases and improved detection and mitigation technologies

野生蓝莓产业是一个重要的经济和重要部门，产量约为51,800公顷，大西洋各省和魁北克的产量为9870万公斤，农场门槛和加工价值分别约为1.766亿美元和3.69亿美元。这项拟议的研究将检查真菌疾病白念珠菌和灰霉病菌对野生蓝莓的结构、功能、生长和发育的影响。野生蓝莓是利用自然产生的甜矮树(Vaccdium Angustifolium)和酸顶(Vaccdium Myrtillodes)蓝莓种群进行管理的，这些种群含有不同的枝条生长和发育特征，以及对这些疾病的不同水平的抗性。有鉴于此，拟议的研究将努力通过使用无人机绘制野生蓝莓田地的种群结构图，确定蓝莓表型对真菌疾病的相对易感性，确定用于阻止疾病的抗性机制，并确定疾病对蓝莓生长发育的影响。此外，还将开展研究，检查传统疾病控制产品的交付、沉积、流动性和持久性，并开发降低风险的疾病管理实践，以减少杀菌剂的使用，提高水果质量。这些发现将最终改进疾病预测模型、诊断和疾病控制技术以及生产系统的可持续性。预计拟议项目将减少30%的农用化学品使用量，并降低20%的生产成本。拟议的项目涉及生产者协会和行业赞助商确定的关键研究优先事项，将加强达尔豪西大学的研究能力，并为培训高素质人员提供必要的工具。将通过实地考察日、黄昏会议、包括野生蓝莓信息网在内的网络机制、科学专题讨论会和会议以及科技文章等平台，向该部门的所有生产者和利益攸关方传播研究成果。

The wild blueberry industry is an economically important and significant sector with approximately 51,800 ha in production, producing 98.7 million kg in the Atlantic provinces and Quebec with farm gate and processed values of approximately $176.6 million and $369 million respectively. The proposed research will examine the impact of fungal diseases Monilinia and Botryis blight on the structure, function, growth, and development of wild blueberries. Wild blueberries are managed using naturally occurring populations of sweet lowbush (Vaccinium angustifolium) and sour-top (Vaccinium myrtilloides) blueberries containing different shoot growth and development characteristics and also varying levels of resistance to these diseases. Given this, efforts will be made in the proposed research to map the population structure of wild blueberry fields through the use of unmanned aerial vehicles, determine the relatively susceptibility of blueberry phenotypes to the fungal diseases, identify the resistance mechanisms being used in deterring the diseases and determine the impact of the diseases on blueberry growth and development. This will be complimented with studies examining the delivery, deposition, mobility and persistence of conventional disease control products, and also developing reduced risk disease management practices that will reduce fungicide usage and improve fruit quality. Findings will be culminated into improved predictive disease models, diagnostic and disease control technologies and production system sustainability. It is anticipated that the proposed project will reduce agrochemical usage by 30% and reduce the cost of production by 20%. The proposed project addresses key research priorities established by producer associations and the industry sponsor, will enhance the research capacity of Dalhousie University, and provide an essential vehicle for the training of highly qualified personnel. Dissemination of research results will occur to all producers and stakeholders in the sector through platforms including field days, twilight meetings, web based mechanisms including the Wild Blueberry Information Network, scientific symposia and meetings, and scientific and technical articles.