Plant Protection – Phytopathology

The Plant Protection - Phytopathology group works on aspects related to plant health and plant diseases (fungi, oomycetes, bacteria, viruses) in all crops. The members of the group are active in research and extension. The aim is to develop ecologically sound solutions for existing plant protection problems or those that are emerging or increasing as a result of globalization and climate change, or to improve existing methods. In finding solutions, all levels of the crop protection pyramid are taken into account, from cultivation techniques to variety selection and direct crop protection. To this end, the group works closely with other groups within the department and the other FiBL departments, partner institutes (e.g. Agroscope, ZHAW, ETH, various universities) and producers. Depending on the research question, laboratories (microbiology, molecular biology, application laboratory), climate chambers, greenhouses or field trial facilities are used for research, and on farm trials are carried out together with producers. The group participates in national and international research projects, and maintains a scientific collaboration with companies active in the field of biological plant protection. 

Main areas of work

Product testing and development

• Replacement of copper fungicides: new development of sustainable alternatives (in collaboration with other research institutions and companies) and testing and development of products in collaboration with companies.
• Annual Biocontrol Industry Meeting (ABIM): contact, exchange and collaboration with the biocontrol industry.

Breeding support

• Evaluating disease resistance in the breeding process for organic farming, e.g. in apples (resistance to scab and Marssonina leaf fall), peas (resistance to Ascochyta blight and nanoviruses), or grapevines (resistance to downy mildew).

Cultivation techniques

• Development and testing of innovative cultivation techniqes: testing and comparison of new technical approaches for direct and preventive crop protection in fruit growing.
• Transformation of agricultural and cropping systems to reduce pesticides use.

"Soil functional biodiversity": soil-plant interactions

• Prevention and control of soil-borne diseases: Investigation of the influence of e.g. soil tillage or different organic fertilizers on the occurrence of soil-borne diseases or the tolerance or resilience of plants to such diseases.
• Optimization of the use of composts for prevention and control of soil-borne diseases.
• Composting: national and international (e.g. China, Costa Rica, Sri Lanka, Kenya) projects to produce high quality compost.

Extension and communication

• Maintenance and optimization of decision support systems in the field of plant protection and communication of recommendations for action to practitioners.

Diagnostics and epidemiology of diseases:

• Isolation and identification of pathogens for experimental studies to better understand the epidemiology of diseases as a basis for developing effective disease prevention and control measures also in the context of the plant-related microbiome.
• Development and establishment of specific (q)PCR detection e.g. for pathogens that are difficult to diagnose by classical methods or for the detection of new pathogens.
• Postharvest Diseases: Investigation of pathogens that can lead to postharvest losses after infection in the field. Development of strategies to prevent infections in the field.
• Population genetic and epidemiological studies of pathogens. This makes it possible, for example, to estimate their adaptation potential (relevant for breeding new resistant varieties), or serves as a decision-making aid for the selection of varieties in cultivation.
• Service provider for method development in classical and molecular microbiology for other departments at FiBL (e.g. taxonomic and functional identification of macro and microorganisms in livestock feces samples).

Contact

Hans-Jakob Schärer