Resumen de Integrated management of bacterial spot disease of stone fruits caused by xanthomonas arboricola pv. Pruni: development of a disease forecasting system
Bacterial spot disease of stone fruits, caused by Xanthomonas arboricola pv. pruni, is of high economic importance in the major stone-fruit-producing areas worldwide. Disease control is mainly based on preventive measures, such as quarantine regulation, breeding for resistance or preventive copper spray applications, since no curative and effective chemical control is available. Therefore, a better understanding of disease epidemiology can be valuable in developing disease management strategies. This thesis was aimed at developing a mechanistic forecasting system for bacterial spot disease of stone fruits, which is based on three components: i) epiphytic inoculum potential, ii) weather conditions conducive to infections, and iii) disease symptom appearance. The effects of environmental parameters and inoculum populations on different steps of the disease cycle were quantified and modeled. The results contributed with new knowledge on the epidemiology of bacterial spot disease of stone fruits and offer new possibilities in its management.
