Challenges and Opportunities for Management of Crop and Tree Diseases in Northern Ireland
Date
2020-10-24
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Publisher
Scholars.Direct
Abstract
Phytopathogens have beleaguered the island of Ireland since the 19th century great famine caused by the potato blight
oomycete, Phytophthora infestans and in recent times by cohorts of serious bacterial wilt diseases such as Erwinia,
Dickeya, Ralstonia, and fungal wilt diseases predominantly caused by saprophyte fungi (e.g. Fusarium oxysporum, Pythium,
Rhizoctonia) have all shown their growing resistance to various conventional chemical control agents, and create
enormous impact on sustainable agriculture, further exacerbated by global climate change pressures. The plant health
outlook in Northern Ireland has further been tested by emergent Europe wide agro-forestry related diseases including
the recent broad host insect vector-borne Xanthamonas bacterial phytopathogen Xylella fastidiosa that can affect a wide
array of ornamental, arable crops and tree species alike. This mini-review focuses on potential alternative plant extracts
and microbial sources as agents broadly known as biostimulants for not only their growth promotion via plant and soil
nutrient management but also controlling phytopathogens in Northern Ireland. The multi-actor approach comprising
stake holders, plant health policy makers, farmers, plant health advisors, researchers, knowledge transfer centres will be
the key drivers for an effective data input and sustainable plant health. Integration of precision farming with latest information
and communications technology (ICT), advanced automation for need based/site-specific use of biostimulants to
combat biotic and abiotic stress, on-field plant pathogen remote sensors and their extended new tool applications for
soil and phytosanitory inspections at port of entry points are some of the overarching comprehensive strategies planned
for the future.
Description
Publication history: Accepted - 22 October 2020; Published online - 24 October 2020.
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Keywords
Biological control, Crops, Trees, Diseases, Alternative biopesticides
Citation
Rao, J. R., Moore, J., Martin, T., Nelson, D. and Fleming, C. (2020) ‘Challenges and Opportunities for Management of Crop and Tree Diseases in Northern Ireland’, Archives of Crop Science. Scholars.Direct, 4(1). doi: 10.36959/718/605.