Developing sustainable pest and pathogen control in coir substrate
Title: Reducing the risk of oomycete pathogens, thrips and weevils for sustainable, coir based soft fruit production
Funder: Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council
Industry partner: Overland Ltd
Term: March 2023 to November 2023
Project leader: Matevz Papp-Rupar
The UK soft industry has moved almost entirely from soil based production into virgin coir substrate which is normally used for a single growing season. By growing in a clean substrate, the incidence of soil borne pests and diseases has decreased, but a number of pests and pathogens continue to adversely affect fruit yields and quality, requiring management interventions. Recently, recycling of spent coir media has been investigated as a more economic and sustainable approach. Recycled material however is associated with a much higher risk of pests and pathogens. A sustainable approach to prevent or reduce the risk of pests and pathogens in virgin and recycled coir media is therefore urgently needed.
The project
This project is studying the biology of pests, pathogens and biocontrol agents in both virgin and recycled coir. The research aims to investigate the diversity and function of the microbiome in recycled and virgin coir substrate, and in particular survival and efficacy of biological control agents in virgin and recycled material. We expect recycled material to have a higher diversity of both pathogenic and beneficial microorganisms and also to enable better establishment of added biocontrol agents. The work will be done on strawberry crops and will complement Growing Kent & Medway funded work with Overland Ltd on recycling optimisation and practical implementation into growing practice.