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Detection of the fire blight biocontrol agent Bacillus subtilis BD170 (Biopro®) in a Swiss apple orchard

Broggini, G. ; Duffy, B. ; Holliger, E. ; Schärer, H. ; Gessler, C. ; Patocchi, A.

In: European Journal of Plant Pathology, 2005, vol. 111, no. 2, p. 93-100

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    Title
    • Detection of the fire blight biocontrol agent Bacillus subtilis BD170 (Biopro®) in a Swiss apple orchard
    Author
    • Broggini, G.. Plant Pathology Group, Institute of Plant Sciences, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, CH-8092, Zürich, Switzerland
    • Duffy, B.. Agroscope FAW Wädenswil, CH-8820, Wädenswil, Switzerland
    • Holliger, E.. Agroscope FAW Wädenswil, CH-8820, Wädenswil, Switzerland
    • Schärer, H.. Agroscope FAW Wädenswil, CH-8820, Wädenswil, Switzerland
    • Gessler, C.. Plant Pathology Group, Institute of Plant Sciences, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, CH-8092, Zürich, Switzerland
    • Patocchi, A.. Plant Pathology Group, Institute of Plant Sciences, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, CH-8092, Zürich, Switzerland
    Document Type
    • Postprint
    Language
    • English
    Published in
    • European Journal of Plant Pathology, 2005, vol. 111, no. 2, p. 93-100. Kluwer Academic Publishers
    Other Version
    OAI-PMH Identifier
    • oai:doc.rero.ch:316284
    Summary
    Fire blight, caused by Erwinia amylovora, is a major disease threat to apple, pear and other pome fruit worldwide. The disease is widespread in Europe and has recently become established in Switzerland. Antibiotics are the most effective controls used in North America but these are not permitted for agricultural use in most European countries. A newly registered biological control product Biopro®, based on the antagonist Bacillus subtilis strain BD170, is being used as an alternative strategy for fire blight management. A specific molecular marker was developed for monitoring the spread of this agent on blossoms after Biopro® spray application in a Swiss apple orchard throughout the bloom period for 2years. Direct spraying resulted in efficient primary colonisation of pistils in flowers that were open at the time of treatment. Subsequent bacterial dissemination (secondary colonisation) of flowers that were closed or at bud stage at the time of treatment was observed but was found to be dependent on the timing of treatments relative to bloom stage in the orchard. Foraging honeybees were shown to be disseminators of Biopro®. We also report detection of the biocontrol agent in honey collected from hives where bees were exposed by placing Biopro® at the entrance or in the hatching nest and from hives that were simply placed in sprayed orchards