Kurzbeschreibung
(Englisch)
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The project BIOSEEDLING 'Robust planting material from seeds to young plants - an implementation oriented chain approach' aims to find improved production procedures for vegetable seedlings of rocket and corn salad. These improved production protocols, beginning from seed production will provide better disease control during seedling stage and vigourous planting material of high productivity. The project covers largely the goals of WG1 of the COST action FA 1115. The project starts at seed production and processing. In WP1 a case study on the state of the art of a selected Swiss organic seed grower will be carried out. Potential improvements of existing standard protocols will be tested on-farm. In WP 2 existing seed treatment methods are compared and compiled in a literature study (together with COST partners). The best methods will be tested on selected seed lots. In WP 3 health and vigor of seedlings will be improved. Experiments will be conducted on substrate additives (e.g. compost), physical treatments (e.g. UV radiation) and on plant strengthening prodcuts including resistance elicitors. In WP 4 best methods will be tested in combination. Effects after planting and on yield will be evaluated. Dissemination has a strong focus on seedling and vegetable growers. Scientific publications are forseen. All activities of BIOSEEDLING are in close co-operation with the partners of the COST action, with other transnational projects and institutions of competence.
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Abstract
(Englisch)
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The project BIOSEEDLING 'Robust planting material from seeds to young plants - an implementation oriented chain approach' aims to find improved production procedures for vegetable seedlings of rocket and corn salad. Beginning from seed production in WP1, we analysed the production of corn salad seeds of Sativa Rheinau AG, an organic seed producer and studied the effect of harvest time on the germination and disease rate in the seeds. Results suggest that earlier harvests have a better germination and lower disease rates than seeds of later harvests. With the results, we provide a protocol to improve seed production. In WP2, we tested several seed disinfection methods: aerated steam, hot water, sodium hypochlorite, ethanol, Calcium hydroxide, and compost pellet. Treatments were done in the lab or in collaborating seed companies with professional equipment. Seeds naturally infected with the pathogens Peronospora valerianellae and Acidovorax valerianellae and to a lesser extent Phoma valerianellae were provided by Rijk Zwann (De Lier, NL). Effects of sanitation treatments were tested with standard methods for the identification of the seed pathogens and the quantification of the infection. Our results confirm the efficacy of the physical methods and show that different methods work best against different pathogens. Furthermore, we have compiled a literature study on organic treatment of vegetable seeds (together with COST partners), published a short version in Acta horticulturae and prepared an extended version to be submitted to a peer-reviewed journal. In WP3, substrates suppressive to the soil borne pathogens Rhizoctonia solani and Pythium ultimum were developed. We used mixes containing disease suppressive composts, other peat substitutes, biological agents and different fertilizers. Methods to evaluate the effectiveness of substrates in comparison to standard substrates were established and experiments combining different substrates with fertilizers were performed on several plant systems. The best substrate found consists of black peat, compost and wood fibres and is fertilized with ‘Condit 5’ and crab shells. Experiments on the influence of night cycle interruption with red or blue light on the sporulation of Pe. valerianellae were performed on rocket and corn salad seedlings. However, they remained inconclusive. An improvement of the system is needed for future experiments. Several plant protection agents were tested against Pe. valerianellae and an efficient novel product combined to a resistance elicitor was found. The best substrate and plant protection agent were used to grow seedlings at a professional producer and were compared to their standard methods. Productivity in terms of yield (harvest weight) and plant health was measured after transplanting the seedlings of corn salad and rocket in an agricultural polytunnel. In WP4, we assessed the crop productivity with the optimized methods found in the previous work packages. Our results show that the productivity (g/m2 fresh weight) could be increased by at least 11% and 17% for corn salad and rocket, respectively. All activities of BIOSEEDLING were in close co-operation with the partners of the COST action FA1105 Organic Greenhouse Horticulture.
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