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Plant Protection – Phytopathology

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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

Projects

StatusFiBLTitleStartEnd
ongoing CH Decarbonization of coffee production residues by biochar-stimulated composting (DECARB-CO) 25.03.2024 30.06.2024
ongoing CH Development of local compost production to optimize coffee production (Biofabrica) 08.02.2024 31.12.2026
ongoing CH peat reduction with composted hemp fibres 01.01.2024 31.12.2024
ongoing CH Agrivoltaic (Agri-PV) 02.10.2023 31.12.2025
ongoing CH Turning food waste into sustainable soil improvers for better soil health and improved food systems (Waste4Soil) 01.06.2023 31.05.2027
ongoing CH Development of Organic Stone Fruit Production Technology 26.04.2023 31.12.2025
ongoing CH Pre-harvest and post-harvest innovations to reduce pome fruit storage losses (INNO-STOCK) 01.04.2023 31.03.2027
ongoing CH Regional optimisation concepts for a demand-oriented water supply in fruit production in the region of Lake Constance 01.04.2023 31.03.2026
ongoing DECHEU Organic seed and plant breeding to accelerate sustainable and diverse food systems in Europe (LiveSeeding) 01.10.2022 30.09.2026
ongoing CH Larixyne – a green fungicide solution for European Vineyards (Eco-Larix) 01.10.2022 30.04.2025
ongoing CH Climate resiliant grape varieties to secure yield (KliWiReSSE) 01.10.2022 30.09.2025
ongoing CH Climate friendly organic palm and coconut oil production in the tropics 01.09.2022 31.12.2025
ongoing CH Recycling palm oil production residues by composting (Côte d'Ivoire Compost huile de palme) 01.09.2022 28.02.2025
completed CH Investigating antibiotic resistance genes and antibiotic resistant bacteria in pig manure as a result of the retrospective use of antibiotic (Antibiotikaresistenzen in Schweinegülle) 01.07.2022 31.03.2024
ongoing CH An innovative and replicable training strategy to strengthen expertise and entrepreneurial capacities for integrated solid waste management in Colombia (Colombia Don Bosco) 01.07.2022 30.06.2024
ongoing CH Torfreduzierte und torffreie Anzuchtsubstrate für Jungpflanzen im produzierenden Gemüsebau (Torfreduktion) 01.04.2022 31.05.2026
ongoing CH Evidence-based transformation in pesticide governance (TRAPEGO) 01.01.2022 31.12.2024
ongoing CH Course Organic Gardening School Hünibach (Lehrgang Biogarten) 01.07.2021
completed CH Sri Lanka: Conversion to organic farming and scientific support on organic fertilization (Sri Lanka Bio Conversion) 28.06.2021 31.12.2023
ongoing CH Improving the shelf life of organic beetroots - Influence of different production strategies 01.05.2021 30.04.2025
completed CHEU BIOdiversity of soils and FArming Innovations for improved Resilience in European wheat agrosystems (BIOFAIR) 01.04.2021 31.03.2024
ongoing CH GEP (Good Experimental Practice) plot for evaluating alternatives to copper (InNoVaudCuivre) 01.01.2021 31.12.2024
ongoing CH Breeding to establish Swiss peas in agriculture and human nutrition (ZESELE) 01.10.2020 30.09.2024
ongoing CH Sustainable Plant Protection Transition: A Global Approach (SPRINT) 01.09.2020 31.12.2025
completed CH PGREL project "Use of gene resources in apples for organic farming II" (PGREL-Nutzungsprojekt) 01.01.2020 31.12.2023
completed CH Wiesenschwein, das Zukunftsschwein 01.11.2019 01.03.2022
completed CH Sustainable management of organic municipal waste in the Municipality of Pérez Zeledón, Costa Rica 01.08.2019 31.08.2021
completed CH DialogProTec – New ways to protect our plants (DialogProTec) 01.07.2019 30.06.2022
completed CH Validierung und Weiterentwicklung eines Eiablage Prognosesystems für die Kirschessigfliege in der Nordwestschweiz (SIMKEF-CH) 01.05.2019 01.05.2021
completed FRCH Control fusariosis in garlic and melon crops according to soil diversity. Proposal of agronomic and ecological levers in SYNERGY with the potentialities of pedoclimatic contexts and with conventional and organic farming systems. (SYNERGIES) 01.01.2019 30.06.2022
completed CH Neue Wege im Pflanzenschutz im Bio-Obstbau: Entwicklung und Evaluation von IT-gestützten Pflanzenschutzverfahren im FiBL-Freiluft-Labor 01.01.2019 31.12.2021
ongoing CH New ways in plant protection in organic fruit growing: Development and evaluation of IT-supported plant protection methods and a new training system 01.01.2019 31.12.2026
ongoing CHEU Italian Input List 30.09.2018
completed CH Replacement of Contentious Inputs in organic farming Systems (RELACS) 01.05.2018 30.04.2022
completed CH Organic and bio-dynamic vegetable production in low-energy GREENhouses – sustainable, RESILIENT and innovative food production systems (Greenresilient) 02.04.2018 01.10.2021
completed CH Mögliche Pflanzenschutzszenarien 01.03.2018 31.12.2019
completed CH Use of functional agro-biodiversity to improve ecosystem services in vineyards 01.01.2018 31.12.2021
ongoing CH Overseas Agriculture Sector Intern Scholarship (OASIS) Program (EPIS-OASIS-Program) 01.01.2018
ongoing CH Identifizierung und Charakterisierung der krankheitsunterdrückenden Mikroorganismen beim Komposteinsatz 01.10.2017 31.12.2025
completed CHDE LIVESEED - Improve performance of organic agriculture by boosting organic seed and plant breeding efforts across Europe (LIVESEED) 01.06.2017 30.09.2021
completed CH Development of Integrated Management for Organic Fruit Production 01.04.2017 31.12.2019
completed CHFR Compost - Soil fertility and plant health 01.03.2017 31.12.2019
completed CH Development and technical implementation of modern seed technologies (cleaning, thermal seed treatment, priming, coating with microorganisms) (Saatguttechnologie) 01.10.2016 30.04.2021
completed CH Improving disease resistance of peas through selection at the plant-soil interface (resPEAct) 01.06.2016 31.12.2020
completed CHFR Sustainable control of phytoplasma borne lavender disease 01.05.2016 30.06.2020
completed CH Tropane alkaloids in organic food 01.01.2016 30.09.2016
completed CH PGREL project "Use of gene resources in apples for organic farming" (Nutzung von Apfel-Genressourcen für den Bio-Anbau) 01.01.2016 29.02.2020
completed CH Sustainable plant protection against invasive pests in pomiculture and viticulture (InvaProtect) 01.01.2016 31.12.2018
completed CH Development of direct and indirect measures against Marssonina coronaria on the basis of infection biology of the pathogen under European conditions 01.01.2016 31.12.2019
completed CH Interactive Soil Quality Assessment in Europe and China for Agricultural Productivity and Environmental Resilience (iSQAPER) 01.05.2015 30.04.2020
completed CH Testing of sweet and sour cherry and plum cultivars for organic growing 01.01.2015 31.12.2018
completed CH Innovative design and management to boost functional biodiversityof organic orchards (ECOORCHARD) 01.01.2015 31.12.2017
completed CH Enhancment of the organic small fruit production 01.01.2015 31.12.2018
ongoing CH Delightful organic apple 01.01.2015 31.12.2025
completed CH Robust planting material from seeds to young plants - an implementation oriented chain approach (COST Bioseedling) 01.03.2014 28.02.2016
completed CH Breeding research on anthracnose tolerance and intercropping of lupin 01.01.2014 31.12.2023
completed CH Detergents and disinfectants 01.01.2014 31.12.2015
completed CH Biological control manufacturers in Europe develop novel biological control products to support the implementation of Integrated Pest Management in agriculture and forestry (BIOCOMES) 01.12.2013 30.11.2017
completed CH Botanical plant protection agent from Larix by-products (PROLARIX) 01.11.2013 31.10.2015
completed CH Using functional agro-biodiversity (FAB) to improve organic apple production (FAB_Korea) 01.01.2013 01.01.2015
completed DECH Resource Preservation by Application of BIOefFECTORs in European Crop Production (BIOFECTOR) 01.09.2012 31.08.2017
completed CH Assessment of hygienic risks linked to the use of liquid digestates in Switzerland (Gärguthygiene) 01.06.2012 31.12.2013
completed CH Innovative strategies for copper-free low input and organic farming systems (CO-FREE) 01.01.2012 30.06.2016
completed CH Organic farming without copper 01.01.2011 31.12.2022
ongoing CH Expert Group for Technical Advice on Organic Production (EGTOP) 15.12.2010
completed CH Prüfung feuerbrandtoleranter Sorten und Unterlagen 01.01.2009 31.12.2011
completed CHDE Increasing profitability of stockless arable crops by optimization of soil fertility management (BoFru) 01.08.2008 31.12.2013
completed CH Wood bark and peat based bioactive compounds, speciality chemicals, and remediation materials: from innovations to applications (ForestSpeCs) 01.05.2008 30.04.2011
ongoing CH Schorfprognose (RIMpro) 01.01.2008
completed CH Comparative sustainability assessment of the impact of GM plants in Swiss conventional, integrated and organic farming systems (GM-Impact) 01.01.2008 31.12.2010
ongoing CH Annual Biocontrol Industry Meeting Basel (ABIM) 01.10.2006
ongoing CH Zulassung von Praxisversuchen auf Biobetrieben 01.01.2006
completed CH Registration of Biological Control Agents (REBECA) 01.01.2006 31.12.2007
completed CH Plant survival in natural and agricultural ecosystems: The impact of soil properties on the resistance of grapevine against Plasmopara viticola (NCCR) 01.04.2005 31.03.2009
completed CH Potential and Limits of Pesticide Free Apple Growing by a Self-Regulating Orchard Set-Up (SFS) 01.01.2005 31.12.2016
completed CH QualityLowInputFood WP 3.1: Development of strategies to optimise soil quality characteristics (QLIF, WP 3.1) 01.03.2004 31.05.2009
completed CH QualityLowInputFood: Improving quality and safety and reduction of cost in the European organic and 'low input' supply chains (QLIF) 01.03.2004 31.05.2009
completed CH Depelopment and integration of crop protection strategies 01.01.2004 31.12.2007
completed CH Replacement of Copper Fungicides in Organic Production of Grapevine and Apple in Europe (REPCO) 01.11.2003 31.10.2007
completed CH Harmonised and standardised procedures for evaluation of plant protection products, fertilizers and soil conditioners for use in organic agriculture (ORGANIC INPUTS EVALU) 01.01.2003 31.12.2005
completed CH Quality compost: a durable solution for two different problems 01.01.2003 31.12.2005
ongoing CH Schädlingsregulierung Obstbau 01.01.2002
completed CH Development of a system approach for the management of late blight in EU or-ganic potato production (BLIGHT - MOP) 01.03.2001 31.10.2005
completed CH Sustainable Agriculture Support for Albania (SASA) 01.01.2001 31.12.2011
completed CH Verbesserung der Krankheitstoleranz von Kulturpflanzen mit resistenzinduzierenden Natursubstanzen (PEN) 01.01.2000 30.05.2004
completed CH Induced Resistance: stimulating a plant's natural defense 01.01.2000 31.12.2004
completed CH Regulierung von Schadschnecken im Erwerbsgemüsebau 01.02.1998 31.08.2001
ongoing CH Testing of pit fruit cultivars for organic growing 01.10.1994
ongoing CH List of inputs allowed in Swiss organic agriculture 01.01.1992
ongoing CH Prüfung von Pflanzenbehandlungsmitteln und lebenden Organismen in verschiedenen Kulturen
ongoing CH Beurteilung von Rückstandsfällen (Rückstände - Fallbeurteilung)
completed CH Rückstände Risikomanagement (Rückstände - Risikomanagement)
ongoing CH Bio Suisse Hilfsstoffknospe

Team

Group Plant Protection - Phytopathology
Bernasconi Alessio
Phytopathology, crop protection, post-harvest diseases, organic input evaluation
+41 (0)62 510-5307
Cahenzli Fabian
Plant protection, ecosystem services
+41 (0)62 865-7281
Fuchs Jacques
Phytopathology, vegetable production, recycling fertilizers
+41 (0)62 865-7230
Ludwig Mathias
Phytopathology, research infrastructure, decision support models, application technology
+41 (0)62 865-0458
Mark Jennifer
Phytopathology, agronomy, on-farm research
+41 (0)62 865-0453
Oberhänsli Thomas
Staff commiteephytopathology, microbiology, molecular biology
+41 (0)62 865-7297
Palma Guerrero Javier
Phytopathology, natural antifungal compounds, biocontrol
+41 (0)62 865-6391
Peter Nadine
Phytopathology, microbiology, testing of plant protection products
+41 (0)62 865-7253
Schärer Hans-Jakob
Member of the Management BoardCo-head of the Department of Crop Sciencesad interimCo-leader of the Group Plant Protection - Phytopathologyphytopathology, plant diseases, crop protection, fugicides, copper replacement
+41 (0)62 865-7209
Thürig Barbara
Co-leader of the Group Plant Protection - Phytopathologyphytopathology, soil-plant-interactions, biocontrol, copper replacement
+41 (0)62 865-7298
Zehnder Miro
Phytopathology, fungicides and copper replacement, seed health
+41 (0)62 865-5039