Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. tulipae causes dry rot in tulips. Every year this disease leads to losses of around 10 million euros in the sector despite painstaking efforts to control it. PPO and PRI are developing a Fusarium Screen for tulips, which uses fluorescent protein to reveal infection.
Fusarium oxysporum is a fungal infection that causes bulbs to rot at different moments in the chain. The fungus also produces large amounts of ethylene, a plant hormone that causes gums (sticky mush from uninfected bulbs), flower desiccation in deliverable bulbs and more bulbel formation in the plants. Ethylene also makes tulip bulbs more sensitive to re-infection with Fusarium.
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To obtain a clearer picture of the problem PPO and PRI are developing a Fusarium Screen for tulips which enables the infection process in the bulb to be monitored with a fluorescent protein.
Research has indicated that fusarium grows between the cells (see photo) and that a large amount of spore formation takes place between the scales of the bulb. This year the differences in the sensitivity of cultivars and the aggressiveness of fusarium strains will be studied. Further research will also be conducted on the effect of ethylene.
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Fusarium grows between the cells |
Source: www.kennisonline.wur.nl