Integrated control of Sclerotinia disease in celery and lettuce

土壤传播的植物病原菌菌核菌（Sclerotinia sclerotiorum）会导致豆类、芸苔、胡萝卜、芹菜、生菜和土豆等一系列重要园艺作物的茎和茎冠腐烂，在全球造成重大经济损失。感染是由空气传播的子囊孢子引起的，这些子囊孢子是从蘑菇状的囊孢中释放出来的，这些囊孢是由土壤传播的生存结构（称为菌核）产生的。疾病控制主要集中在通过使用杀菌剂来预防子囊孢子感染，但这种方法越来越不受欢迎。在许多土壤中，菌核病菌的数量也在继续增加，导致疾病压力增加，并对种植者构成重大的长期挑战。然而，很少注意到减少这种初级接种作为一个更可持续的疾病管理战略的一部分。在西班牙南部的集约化蔬菜生产系统中，这种情况非常明显，在那里，Gs种植者种植芹菜和生菜，作为他们业务的很大一部分，以确保英国全年的供应。这些地区的莴苣因菌核病造成的损失平均至少为10%，严重时超过50%。西班牙生产对英国供应商和消费者的重要性最近通过最近的“生菜危机”得到了强调，恶劣的天气中断了供应。该项目的主要目的是通过降低菌核存活率和生存能力来开发减少菌核病影响的方法。主要目标是1)利用分子基因分型收集、鉴定和表征西班牙菌核菌分离株，以与英国分离株的现有数据进行比较；2)确定与英国分离株相比，西班牙分离株菌核萌发所需的环境条件；3)确定不同土壤处理的效果，包括（生物）日光、生物熏蒸、厌氧消毒和生物防治剂。G's Growers是欧洲领先的家族新鲜农产品公司之一，也是芹菜和生菜的主要生产商。虽然学生将在华威大学工作，但他们将有一个独特的机会在西班牙度过大量的时间，深入G的业务并进行实地研究。因此，该项目将适合那些希望在学术界和商业环境中学习，渴望看到自己的研究成果付诸实践，并设想在农业实践和研究之间找到职业的人。因此，该项目将把高质量的科学与现实世界的农学结合起来，包括植物病理学、土壤科学和农学等方面。

The soilborne plant pathogenic fungus Sclerotinia sclerotiorum causes stem and crown rots on a range of important horticultural crop plants such as beans, brassica, carrots, celery, lettuce and potatoes, resulting in major economic losses globally. Infection is initiated by airborne ascospores released from mushroom-like apothecia which are produced by soilborne survival structures known as sclerotia. Disease control is primarily focused on preventing ascospore infection through application of fungicides but this approach is becoming increasingly undesirable. The number of S. sclerotiorum sclerotia also continues to build up in many soils, resulting in increased disease pressure and presenting a major long-term challenge for growers. However, little attention is given to reducing this primary inoculum as part of a more sustainable disease management strategy. This is very much the case for intensive vegetable production systems such as in southern Spain where celery and lettuce are grown by Gs Growers as a large part of their business to ensure year-round availability for the UK. Losses due to Sclerotinia in lettuce in these areas averages at least 10% and in severe cases more than 50%. The importance of Spanish production for both UK suppliers and consumers has recently been highlighted through the recent 'lettuce crisis' where adverse weather disrupted supplies. The main aim of this project is to develop methods for reducing the impact of Sclerotinia disease by reducing sclerotial survival and viability. The main objectives are to 1) collect, identify and characterise Spanish S. sclerotiorum isolates using molecular genotyping to compare with existing data for UK isolates, 2) determine environmental conditions required for sclerotial germination of Spanish isolates compared to UK isolates, 3) determine efficacy of different soil treatments including (bio) solarisation, biofumigation, anaerobic disinfestation and biological control agents. G's Growers are one of Europe's leading family-owned fresh produce companies and a major producer of celery and lettuce. Although the student will be based in at the University of Warwick, they will have a unique opportunity to spend a significant amount of time in Spain embedded in the G's business and carrying out field based research. The studentship will therefore suit an individual who wants to learn from both academia and commercial environments, is keen to see their research put into practice and envisages a career at the interface between agricultural practice and research. The project will therefore combine high quality science with real-world agronomy and includes aspects of plant pathology, soil science and agronomy.