{"id":3918,"date":"2024-01-22T11:25:42","date_gmt":"2024-01-22T10:25:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.msbiotech.net\/?p=3918"},"modified":"2025-07-07T14:23:36","modified_gmt":"2025-07-07T12:23:36","slug":"kiwi-mortality-management-treatment-with-microbial-bio-products","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.msbiotech.net\/en\/la-gestione-della-moria-del-kiwi-trattamento-con-bioformulati-microbici\/","title":{"rendered":"KIWI DIEBACK: MANAGEMENT AND TREATMENT WITH MICROBIAL BIOFORMULATES"},"content":{"rendered":"

Kiwi dieback: advantages of treatment with microbial bioformulates with nematicidal and biostimulating action<\/h2>\n

The phenomenon of kiwi die-off<\/strong> is related to the rotting of the root system<\/strong> which initially takes place with thebrowning and loss of absorbent roots<\/strong> and subsequently with complete rotting of the macro roots and the entire root system.<\/p>\n

At the vegetative level, kiwi plant collapse syndrome manifests itself from June-July<\/strong> at the peak of evapotranspirative activity. In the first phase, a reduction in vegetative activity is noted, with a slight darkening of the lower leaf page and a discolouration of the foliage from bright green to brownish-yellow shades. The leaves lose turgidity and the plants appear to require additional water supplies, an action that is however counterproductive as it accelerates the spread of the \"kiwi dieback\" syndrome.<\/p>\n

A quick regression of vegetative activity with<\/strong>:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. leaf crumpling<\/li>\n
  2. phylloptosis<\/li>\n
  3. dehydration of branches and fruit withering in the plant<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    In the worst cases, entire orchards can dry up and die within 3-4 weeks.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

    When the kiwi dieback syndrome occurs in a less aggressive form, it is witnessed:<\/p>\n

      \n
    1. partial browning of absorbing roots<\/li>\n
    2. the reduction of vegetative luxuriance with shorter internodes<\/li>\n
    3. summer defoliation<\/li>\n
    4. reduced fruit enlargement<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      While maintaining minimal levels of productivity and normal vegetative activity in the following spring, in most cases the actinidia plant perishes and dies during the summer.<\/p>\n

      In general, the kiwi dieback syndrome is much more aggressive and rapid in drip-irrigated plots and outbreaks almost always start where the water percolates into the soil at the end of the irrigation cycle.<\/p>\n

      One of the main enemies of the kiwi is the nematode<\/strong>The real fight against the nematode is preventive and primarily involves restoring good organic fertility and vitality to the agricultural soil.<\/p>\n

      ACTINIDIA NEMATODES, SYMPTOMS AND DAMAGE TO KIWI CROPS<\/strong><\/h3>\n

      In recent years in actinidia cultivations the presence of nematodes is increasingly common:<\/strong> anguilliform organisms, which are transparent and only visible under a microscope and which are the cause of the kiwi die-off<\/a>.<\/p>\n

      Infestations are caused by galligenous species of the genus Meloidogyne<\/strong> which present a marked sexual dimorphism: the adult female is pyriform or spherical while the male is vermiform. They are sedentary endoparasitic nematodes that attack the root system of a very wide range of host plants and find favourable conditions for their development in sandy, deep, irrigated soil. They lay their eggs inside a gelatinous ovisac, managing to survive under adverse environmental conditions for a long time in the soil, even for more than three years, prolonging the infestation from one year to the next.<\/p>\n

      The typical symptom of nematode infestation<\/strong> belonging to the genus Meloidogyne, is training <\/strong>of galls on the roots<\/strong>visible to the naked eye.<\/p>\n

      \"kiwi<\/p>\n

      They are caused by alterations in cytoplasm and tissue proliferation and are triggered at as a result of feeding stings by the pest larvae that provoke a series of reactions in the host plant tissues, manifested by the enlargement and increase in cell number.<\/strong><\/p>\n

      The root system<\/strong>once hit, is no longer able to perform its functions regularly<\/strong>lesions on the roots, can favour the establishment of different phytopathogenic fungi and bacteria with synergic damage. In the plants, the attack usually presents itself in patches with plants characterised by stunted development, accompanied by leaf chlorosis and a general vegetative decay until death; on the plants in production, these symptoms are associated with reduced fruit size and drops in production yields.<\/p>\n

      CONTROL OF GALL NEMATODES IN KIWIFRUIT<\/h4>\n

      Melodoigyne attacks are very damaging and difficult to control<\/strong> also due to the lack of synthetic plant protection products (volatile and non-volatile) that can be used on this crop;<\/p>\n

      Preventive measures that can be implemented in the pre-planting and cultivation phases therefore become crucial;<\/p>\n

      Pre-implantation prevention measures:<\/p>\n

        \n
      1. avoid planting on soils infested with caecidogenic nematodes (a nematological analysis of the soil is therefore essential when deciding on planting), also in view of the fact that the only fumigant with nematicidal activity available on the market (1,3 Dichloropropene) has been definitively discontinued and that physical means (solarisation) are not suitable for tree crops;<\/li>\n
      2. purchase propagation material certified in accordance with current phytosanitary regulations;<\/li>\n
      3. as a precautionary measure, exclude, by visual and laboratory observation, the presence of galls in the root systems.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

        CONTAINMENT MEASURES DURING CULTIVATION<\/h4>\n

        On old crops, no intervention is convenient; on those planted less than three years ago, some supporting practices might be advantageous:<\/p>\n

          \n
        1. organic fertilisers that act on the containment of phytoparasitic nematodes, increase plant resistance, promote the development of natural antagonists, etc;<\/li>\n
        2. cultivation and greening of biocide plants (biofumigation), which, as a result of the hydrolytic degradation of glucosinolates produced by secondary metabolism, have a proven action not only against phytopathogenic nematodes but also against insects, fungi and bacteria;<\/li>\n
        3. formulations based on antagonistic fungi<\/strong> (POCHONIA CLAMIDOSPORIA) of nematodes and consortia of microorganisms (bacteria and MICORRIZE e.g.) that also play the role of resistance enhancers.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

          OUR EXPERIENCE<\/strong><\/p>\n

          Between 2019 and 2022 in collaboration with MsBiotech technicians<\/strong> in the Latina area, a protocol for managing kiwi dieback<\/strong><\/a>which involves the use of products such as:<\/p>\n

            \n
          • NEMATECH<\/strong> <\/a>+ ACTIVE ON NEM:\u00a0<\/strong>is an innovative liquid formulation based on viable spores of the fungus\u00a0Pochonia chlamydosporia. <\/em>Nematech<\/strong> <\/a>effectively contributes to the overcoming stress caused by pathogen attacks on the root system<\/strong> even in the presence of gall nematodes<\/strong>.<\/em><\/li>\n
          • TWINTECH RHIZON:<\/strong><\/a> is a special association between an inoculum of useful natural microorganisms and a fluid organic nitrogenous fertilizer of exclusively natural origin. RHIZON<\/a><\/strong> contains a microbial inoculum consisting of viable conidia of Trichoderma spp. and Streptomyces spp.<\/strong>., is characterised by marked properties to promote radical development.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

            On farms where THE PROTOCOL<\/strong><\/a>even before the onset of the syndrome, it was found to prevent and slow down kiwi fruit dieback<\/strong>, with no, slight or limited manifestations in a few plants<\/strong>. In the untreated plots, on the other hand, the dieback was much more aggressive and rapid with actinidia plants completely desiccated.<\/p>\n

            Read also:<\/p>\n

            KIWI TALE: how to limit stress factors<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n