Scientific and technological advances in the development of sustainable disease management tools: a case study on kiwifruit bacterial canker

• Type: Another Publication in an International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2024

Authors

Santos, MG (Author) Other; da Silva, MN (Author) Other; Vasconcelos, MW (Author) Other; Carvalho, SMP (Author) FCUP

Journal

Title: Frontiers in Plant Science

Vol. 14

ISSN: 1664-462X

Publisher: Frontiers Media

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 0 Citations

Scopus

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-00Z-VRV

DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1306420

Abstract (EN): Plant disease outbreaks are increasing in a world facing climate change and globalized markets, representing a serious threat to food security. Kiwifruit Bacterial Canker (KBC), caused by the bacterium Pseudomonas syringae pv. actinidiae (Psa), was selected as a case study for being an example of a pandemic disease that severely impacted crop production, leading to huge economic losses, and for the effort that has been made to control this disease. This review provides an in-depth and critical analysis on the scientific progress made for developing alternative tools for sustainable KBC management. Their status in terms of technological maturity is discussed and a set of opportunities and threats are also presented. The gradual replacement of susceptible kiwifruit cultivars, with more tolerant ones, significantly reduced KBC incidence and was a major milestone for Psa containment - which highlights the importance of plant breeding. Nonetheless, this is a very laborious process. Moreover, the potential threat of Psa evolving to more virulent biovars, or resistant lineages to existing control methods, strengthens the need of keep on exploring effective and more environmentally friendly tools for KBC management. Currently, plant elicitors and beneficial fungi and bacteria are already being used in the field with some degree of success. Precision agriculture technologies, for improving early disease detection and preventing pathogen dispersal, are also being developed and optimized. These include hyperspectral technologies and forecast models for Psa risk assessment, with the latter being slightly more advanced in terms of technological maturity. Additionally, plant protection products based on innovative formulations with molecules with antibacterial activity against Psa (e.g., essential oils, phages and antimicrobial peptides) have been validated primarily in laboratory trials and with few compounds already reaching field application. The lessons learned with this pandemic disease, and the acquired scientific and technological knowledge, can be of importance for sustainably managing other plant diseases and handling future pandemic outbreaks.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 19