Development of molecular techniques for the control of fruit rot in cranberries

提高对蔓越莓病害的认识对确保持续生产优质果实具有至关重要的意义。在不同的生产地理区域，水果病原体日益受到关注。在魁北克，虽然过去蔓越莓疾病很少出现，但不幸的是，疾病的增加困扰着这个行业。在该省的某些地区，种植者现在通常必须使用多达三种杀菌剂来控制不同的疾病。对于水果加工者来说，清除供应链中有缺陷的水果既昂贵又耗时，还会影响成品的供应。准确鉴定导致水果腐烂的几种病原体是复杂、繁琐和不准确的。由于越来越多的真菌分离物对用于控制果实腐烂的strobilurin （QoI）杀菌剂具有抗性，这一问题更加严重。在该项目中，与加拿大Ocean Spray公司和四个蔓越莓种植者合作，目标是开发一种多重PCR方法，可以精确诊断整个魁北克和新斯科舍省蔓越莓果实腐烂的致病因子。这种诊断将适用于田间和储存腐烂。此外，还将努力查明魁北克地区日益增多的黑腐病的来源。最后，分子工具将用于鉴定对qi杀菌剂产生抗性的真菌分离株，以帮助种植者更好地管理该疾病。准确了解攻击蔓越莓的病原体将为加拿大和美国的种植者提供适应的控制解决方案，通过增产和减产以及优化使用农药来减少田间和储存水果腐烂造成的损失，这将使Ocean Spray和全国的蔓越莓种植者受益。

Increased knowledge of cranberry diseases is of capital importance to insure the continued production of quality fruits. The fruit pathogens are an increasing concern in the different geographic areas of production. In Quebec, while the presence of cranberry diseases was rare in the past, an unfortunate increase in diseases has plagued the industry. In certain areas of the province, growers more commonly now have to do up to three fungicide applications to control different diseases. For fruit handlers, the removal of defective fruit in the supply chain is both costly and time-consuming and affects the supply of the finished product. The precise identification of the several pathogens responsible for fruit rot is complex, cumbersome and inaccurate. This problem is exacerbated by the increasing presence of fungal isolates now resistant to strobilurin (QoI) fungicides used to control fruit rot. In this project, in collaboration with Ocean Spray of Canada and four cranberry growers, the objective is to develop a multiplex PCR approach that can lead to a precise diagnostic of the causal agent(s) of cranberry fruit rot throughout the areas of production in Quebec and Nova Scotia. This diagnostic will apply to both field and stored rot. In addition, efforts will be invested to identify the source of black rot on the rise in Quebec fields. Finally, molecular tools will be applied to identify fungal isolates having developed resistance to QoI fungicides in an effort to help growers better manage the disease. A precise knowledge of the pathogens attacking cranberry fruit will provide Canadian and American growers with adapted control solutions that will benefit both Ocean Spray and cranberry growers throughout the country through yield increment and reduction and optimized usage of pesticides to curb losses incurred by field and stored fruit rot.