From Endophyte Community Analysis to Field Application: Control of Apple Canker ( Neonectria ditissima ) with Epicoccum nigrum B14-1

Matevz Papp-Rupar (), Leone Olivieri, Robert Saville, Thomas Passey, Jennifer Kingsnorth, Georgina Fagg, Hamish McLean and Xiangming Xu
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Matevz Papp-Rupar: NIAB, New Road, East Malling, Kent ME19 6BJ, UK
Leone Olivieri: NIAB, New Road, East Malling, Kent ME19 6BJ, UK
Robert Saville: NIAB, New Road, East Malling, Kent ME19 6BJ, UK
Thomas Passey: NIAB, New Road, East Malling, Kent ME19 6BJ, UK
Jennifer Kingsnorth: NIAB, New Road, East Malling, Kent ME19 6BJ, UK
Georgina Fagg: NIAB, New Road, East Malling, Kent ME19 6BJ, UK
Hamish McLean: NIAB, New Road, East Malling, Kent ME19 6BJ, UK
Xiangming Xu: NIAB, New Road, East Malling, Kent ME19 6BJ, UK

Agriculture, 2023, vol. 13, issue 4, 1-16

Abstract: Apple canker, caused by Neonectria ditissima (Tul. and C. Tul.) Samuels and Rossman, is a major disease of apples ( Malus domestica ) worldwide. N. ditissima infects through natural and artificial wounds. Infected wood develops canker lesions which girdle branches and main stems causing reduced yield and tree death. N. ditissima is difficult to control; removal of inoculum (cankers) is expensive and therefore seldom practiced, whilst effective chemical products are being banned and no biocontrol products have been found to be effective against N. ditissima . This study used cues from a previous apple endophyte community analysis to isolate and test fungal endophytes belonging to the genus Epicoccum as potential endophytic biocontrol agents. Epicoccum nigrum B14-1, isolated from healthy apple trees, antagonised N. ditissima in vitro and reduced the incidence of N. ditissima infections of leaf scars by 46.6% and pruning wounds by 5.3% in field conditions at leaf fall. Autumn application of B14-1 conidia increased E. nigrum abundance in apple tissues at 10–20 days post-inoculation by ca. 1.5×, but this returned to control levels after one year. E. nigrum B14-1 did not cause detrimental effects on apple foliage, buds, fruit, or growth and could therefore present a new biocontrol agent to manage N. ditissima in commercial apple production.

Keywords: Neonectria ditissima; Epicoccum nigrum; endophyte; biocontrol; field study; colonisation; host fitness (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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