Biological control of fruit rots on strawberry and grape by BOTRY‐Zen

Abstract

Fruit rots are some of the most important diseases of grape and strawberry. With recent public concern regarding pesticide residues on fruit, there is a need for alternative disease management practices that will reduce the risk to consumers. The main aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of the commercial product BOTRY‐Zen (active ingredient Ulocladium oudemansii [U3 strain]) to control strawberry and grape fruit rots. BOTRY‐Zen at 6 g/L reduced significantly the percentage of rotted fruit in comparison with the untreated control. However, its effectiveness was significantly less than that of the fungicide Switch 25/37.5 WG (fludioxonil: cyprodinil) at a rate of 1 g/L (recommended by producer). There was no significant difference between the BOTRY‐Zen at rate of 4 g/L and untreated plants. The results of this study showed that the commercial product BOTRY‐Zen, at 6 g/L, could be a useful tool to control fruit rots of strawberry and grape in biological fruit production systems.