Biological control of fruit rots on strawberry and grape by BOTRY-Zen

• Published in: New Zealand journal of crop and horticultural science Vol. 43; no. 1; pp. 68 - 72
• Main Authors: Thomidis, T, Pantazis, S, Navrozidis, E, Karagiannidis, N
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Abingdon Taylor & Francis 02-01-2015; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: active ingredients; biological control; Botrytis cinerea; cyprodinil; disease control; fludioxonil; Fragaria; fruit growing; Fruits; fungal pathogens; grapes; horticultural crops; pesticide residues; plant rots; production technology; risk; strawberries; Ulocladium; Ulocladium oudemansii; Vitis; New Zealand
• ISSN: 1175-8783; 0114-0671; 1175-8783
• DOI: 10.1080/01140671.2014.958502

Fruit rots are some of the most important diseases of grape and strawberry. With recent public concern regarding pesticide residues on fruit, there is a need for alternative disease management practices that will reduce the risk to consumers. The main aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of the commercial product BOTRY-Zen (active ingredient Ulocladium oudemansii [U3 strain]) to control strawberry and grape fruit rots. BOTRY-Zen at 6 g/L reduced significantly the percentage of rotted fruit in comparison with the untreated control. However, its effectiveness was significantly less than that of the fungicide Switch 25/37.5 WG (fludioxonil: cyprodinil) at a rate of 1 g/L (recommended by producer). There was no significant difference between the BOTRY-Zen at rate of 4 g/L and untreated plants. The results of this study showed that the commercial product BOTRY-Zen, at 6 g/L, could be a useful tool to control fruit rots of strawberry and grape in biological fruit production systems.