Professor Eduardo Donoso, Agricultural Engineer, M.Sc. Ph.D. and Director of Research and Development of Bio Insumos Nativa, gave an interesting talk on the first day of the XX International Blueberry Seminar held at Expo Guadalajara, regarding the use of biological control agents integrated in conventional blueberry handling.

The talk "Use of biological strategies in the control of diseases in blueberries" was very well received by the attendees, because one of the main challenges in the development of the crop and even in the postharvest of the fruit, is the management of the diseases. Commonly, the management of these pathologies has been based on the use of pesticides, with a high risk for human and environmental health, in addition to affecting the safety of the fruit and increasing costs.

Biological alternative 

In the search for alternatives for the integrated management of diseases, one of the most studied strategies in recent years has been the use of microbial antagonists in order to regulate the populations of phytopathogens in crops.

The wide spectrum of these microorganisms, the possibility of including them before and during the establishment of the crop, and even in the postharvest, and the multifunctionality that they present not only as biological control agents, but also as plant growth promoters and biofertilizers, make the The inclusion of this biological strategy in the integrated management of diseases is attractive for producers, and a solution for the demands of consumers who every day demand more safety.

• What pests do you highlight?

Fruit rot fungi such as botrytis are important in blueberries in all countries where they are produced. Also wood mushrooms, which are not seen in the first years. Alternaria is also important in climates like Mexico

• What are microbial antagonists?

Fungi and bacteria ...

• Does your management include post-harvest?

One of the novelties that we show is the application in post harvest and in recess, to control the inoculum of pathogens that are in the litter, pruning remains and soil, so when the flower comes out there are fewer pathogens and control is easier.

• What is the function of these?

They inhibit and compete for space and nutrients, preventing pathogens from infecting plants. The diseases we control are botrytis, alternaria, wood fungi, phytophthora, and pests such as moths and nematodes.

• Only with microbial antagonists?

In some cases such as wood fungi and only microbial roots, in rotting together with chemicals.

• How are they applied?

They are applied the same way as chemicals, in the case of wood fungi we spray the antagonists instead of having to paint the pruning cuts, to inoculate on litter we apply them together with the herbicides.

• In the case of organic?

In organic we combine with plant extracts and in conventional with chemicals

The researcher comments that they are in the process of obtaining the records in Mexico, "so we hope that next year we can be marketing our products in this country," he comments, and explains that the use of these integrated biological control agents is applicable in the entire cultivation process, from the nursery to postharvest and recess, so that the plants reach the field inoculated. "We can also apply them on stubble from previous crops and also during planting," he concludes.

On the second day of the XX International Blueberry Seminar, the fight against pests, aspects of organic nutrition and the latest in hydroponic systems, among other topics, will also be addressed.