Portal de Cartagena
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Agricultural research group in Crop Protection at the Polytechnic University of Cartagena (UPCT) try to unmask a previously unknown enemy for mature broccoli pellets, one of the most successful regional agriculture crops.
A study by Professor Juan Antonio Martínez López and María Ángeles Parra researcher explained the involvement of the fungus Pyhtium ultimum in soft bone disease that various adult broccoli plants suffered during last season.
The seed company Sakata Seed Ibérica, which maintains close contact with the research group in Crop Protection, will fund in-depth study of these symptoms, including potential implications of parasitic pathogens isolated.
Research will include inoculation of the fungus in controlled Agri Experiment Station Thomas Ferro UPCT crops.
Professor Martinez has isolated the fungus Pythium ultimum and several species of pectinolytic bacteria in tissues affected by an aqueous brown decomposition inside the marrow of adult flowering stems.
"Until now, scientific evidence was reported that at least three species of microorganisms are capable of producing soft rot in broccoli tissues, but the rot caused by Pythium ultimum had not been cited previously as a cause of the rot of mature broccoli pellets at least in our soil and climate, "explains researcher at the Polytechnic.
"This fungus, among others, can cause seedling disease called" damping-off "or drowning seedlings (small plants that normally grow seedlings under controlled conditions).
It is a disease commonly described in seedlings of many species, including broccoli, but not cited in adult plants of this species, "the teacher of the School of Agriculture.
"Although these symptoms have been observed on several occasions in the field, has always been attributed to bacterial soft rot, so this study might reveal the involvement of the fungus and its possible interaction with certain pathogenic bacteria causing the breakdown of tissues, "notes Martínez to highlight the" scientific and technical interest in deeper understanding of this disease that is not documented and establish parasitic implications of Pythium ultimum and pectinolytic bacteria found in the affected parts. "
Sataka UPCT and collaborated with the research 'Bimi, a new hybrid of broccoli with high nutritional value', which this year won an award for best work on Food and Health Agroingeniería VII and Iberian Congress of Horticultural Science.
In Murcia broccoli 172,000 tons were harvested in 2012, making it the fourth most abundant in the regional vegetable field, and their production is growing at 5% annually.
Source: UPCT
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