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Joint project: Downy mildew and other harmful fungi to sage; Subproject 2: Establishing the scientific basis for the development of effective strategies to control downy mildew salviae-officinalis and Phoma exigua on sage
Project
Project code: 22006411
Contract period: 01.04.2016
- 31.03.2019
Budget: 288,710 Euro
Purpose of research: Applied research
Since antique times sage (Salvia officinalis) has been used as a medicinal plant to cure many different diseases. Sage is an important niche culture in Germany providing high revenues through a complex value chain. Because sage is a perennial plant, and all plant organs (stem, leaf, flower, root) are used for a variety of medical products, pathogen control is crucially important in the case of sage. Currently, however, sage cultivation in Germany is threatened by emerging diseases: A downy mildew pathogen (Peronospora salviae-officinalis) has been spreading through Central European sage cultures in the last few years. This parasite is specific for sage and has only been classified as a species of its own in 2009. Additionally, problems by stem and root diseases caused by Phoma exigua var. exigua have intensified. Together the two pathogens have caused yield losses of up to 50 per cent in some areas in Germany, recently. The main aim of the described project is therefore to secure the production of sage in Germany by controlling the pathogens. To achieve this, the scientific foundations are to be laid by the described project. Detailed investigations on the infection biology and epidemiology of the two most important pathogens are needed to enable efficient control. To reach this goal, the results of the following work packages of the project will be combined: (1) Infection studies in the climate chamber and in the field, (2) monitoring of the pathogens in sage cultivation throughout Germany (3) development of a specific, sensitive and quantifying method for detecting the pathogens (using qPCR). By using this method contamination of sage seeds and soils by parasite spores can be detected and quantified, aiming at defining threshold values for secure sage cultivation. Taken together better understanding the epidemiology and infection biology of the two pathogens will help at providing advice for pathogen control and sustainable sage production.
Section overview
Subjects
- Crop Protection
Framework programme
Funding programme
Excutive institution
Institute for Epidemiology and Pathogen Diagnostics (JKI-EP)
