Greenhouse / Garden Centre 
Berry 
Informative
9:30 AM
This session is sponsored by
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Genevieve Marchan
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Following the yellow brick road: Fusarium in Greenhouse Peppers Since 2022, wilt and root rot disease issues in greenhouse pepper crops have been reported in Canada (Ontario and British-Columbia), and other countries (Netherlands) are also reporting similar issues. Early reports indicated an association with Fusarium oxysporum, a fungal plant pathogen species known to cause vascular wilt and crown and root rot issues in numerous economically significant crops, including greenhouse pepper, tomato and cucumber. This presentation will provide an update on the latest research findings on causal species associated with this outbreak in Ontario, as well as possible avenues for diagnostics and management. |
Keiko Yoshioka University of Toronto
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Towards “microbe-based immunization” of plants – Hunting for beneficial soil bacteria from Canada to enhance crop performance Similar to the gut microbiome, plants live with an astonishing number and variety of microorganisms, and they also influence the plant’s well-being. It has been known that beneficial microorganisms can improve plant resilience against pathogens, environmental stresses such as heat and water stress, and also affect growth and development. However, this natural resource is underused for agriculture production. We have screened a library containing ~2,000 naturally occurring non-pathogenic bacterial strains isolated from agricultural soils, mostly from the rhizosphere of crop plants such as strawberries, tomatoes, lettuce, apples, and peppers in Canada. We have identified a number of bacterial strains that can enhance pathogen resistance and enhance growth in tomato. We have established a screening method and isolated more than 10 strains that can improve resistance against the fungal pathogen, Botrytis cinerea in tomato. In this presentation, I will talk about our current results and efforts towards “microbe-based bio-immunization” of crop plants. |
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Michael Brownbridge
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‘Can we all just get along?’ said the microbe to the molecule Microbial biofungicides and biostimulants are increasingly utilized in integrated root health management programs. Biofungicides’ unique modes of action are important in resistance management and these materials are inherently safer for workers, non-target organisms, and the environment. In this talk, we will examine how microbial plant protection agents may be used together with other biological inputs and conventional disease-management products. When do such practices make sense and which materials work well together? Conversely, which don’t? The presentation will include insights into some of the advantages of combining different treatments, consider ways of ensuring compatibility, and highlight some of the available resources to guide decisions around product selections and use. |
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Els Vanbeckevoort Steven Liss |
Microbiome Water Wars Hydrogen peroxide is secreted by plants at various stages in a plant life cycle. It is used in the regulation of plant metabolism as well as cellular signaling in response to environmental stress. Hydrogen peroxide can be helpful in managing agricultural water. In re-circulating water systems such as those used in many greenhouses, harmful plant microbes can bloom on plant nutrients and runoff, causing early plant damage. Poor water quality in agricultural growing systems also inhibits root health, increases the risk of plant disease, and decreases crop weight at harvest time. Maintaining a balanced microbiome is critical for maintaining resilient water system health. This presentation provides insight into a new application test method for evaluating and managing microbial activity risk in a mixed microbiome, differentiating between possible pathogens and probiotic organisms in irrigation water. |
*Approximately 30-minute presentations
