They create vaccine that prevents the presence of neck gill in fruit trees

They create vaccine that prevents the presence of neck gills in fruit trees

09/05/2015

The gall of the neck or crown, is a disease caused by pathogenic bacteria Agrobacterium tumefaciens and affects various nursery and fruit plants such as almonds, plums, apricots, cranberries, cherry trees and walnuts, among others.

The disease attacks the plants through wounds in roots and crown, caused by agricultural work or by attacks of nematodes and insects of the soil, generating important losses to the farmers since the sick trees diminish their productivity to the point that they have to be torn , for not being economically viable.

Currently, the gall of the neck abounds in Chilean soils and can survive for several years as a saprophyte organism, that is, feeding on decomposing materials.

According to figures from the Natural Resources Information Center (CIREN), it is estimated that in Chile there are 297.000 hectares planted with fruit trees in the country, so a biological controller could be presented as an effective alternative to prevent this serious disease.

The national company Biogram developed 10 years ago a biological controller, of preventive nature, whose active principle is also a bacterium, the strain K84 of Agrobacterium radiobacter, which neutralizes the attack of A. tumefaciens, indicates a statement.

"This bacterium is of Australian origin, and is the only one not genetically modified with which its effect has been demonstrated as preventive of the pathogen"He adds.

The product is named Biobacter 84G® and is one of the few existing worldwide that contains this bacterium, since there are only three other countries that generate similar formulations: USA, Holland and Australia. Thus, the biological controller developed in the country is unique in Latin America.

"It is applied by immersing the roots in a suspension of Biobacter 84G® in water. Our product has been applied in the last 10 years to more or less 31 million plants, in nursery and orchard. Throughout this period, we have not known of shoots of neck gill in inoculated plants", Said the commercial manager of Biogram, Pedro Miranda.

Likewise, Miranda commented that there is no chemical or other treatment to neutralize this pest, and that Biobacter 84G® is the only product with a biopesticide registration granted by the Agricultural and Livestock Service (SAG) of Chile to control it.

On the other hand, the executive stressed that to maintain the effectiveness of the product, they renew the mother strain at least once a year, importing it from official US stocks. and Europe.

"The purity, authenticity and validity of the strain is a competitive advantage that Biogram has, as well as the experience of more than three decades in the management of this biocontroller", Indicates the document.

The above, in Miranda's words, explains "The strong increase in sales of the product in the local market" And in 2014 the units sold increased an 41% with respect to 2013.

Currently, the company is negotiating the export of the product to Peru and has also received applications from Mexico, Spain and Colombia.

Source: Fruit Portal