Swede: Control of Phoma dry rot


Project summary:

This project aims to improve understanding of the disease cycle of dry rot in swedes and use this knowledge to develop more effective control measures. Recent projects on winter oilseed rape provide valuable background on epidemiology and control of this disease that can be adapted and exploited for the swede crop. In the first year, crops in Scotland and England would be monitored for Phoma symptoms during the whole growing season to quantify its development within the crop. This will be supported by controlled studies with artificial inoculation of leaves and bulbs at various stages to compare the development of symptoms from ascospores and pycnidiospores. This new data will interpreted using expertise gained in oilseed rape so that critical stages in the disease cycle are identified in swedes. 

Benefits to industry

The project would provide improved understanding of the factors affecting the development of swede dry rot and lead to progress on how fungicide treatments might be targeted and exploited more efficiently. Crop losses particularly in later harvested and stored crops would be substantially reduced. This project is concerned with culinary swedes though it would provide benefits in crops grown for the livestock sector and possibly other brassicas affected by Phoma stem canker. Inoculation studies may be of interest to breeders selecting new swede varieties for resistance to dry rot.
Project code:
FV 431
01 May 2014 - 31 July 2015
AHDB Horticulture
AHDB sector cost:
Project leader:


FV 431_Report_Final_2015 fv 431_GS_Final_2015

About this project

Aims and objectives:

(i) Project aim(s):
The overall aim is improve understanding and control of dry rot of swedes
(ii) Project objective(s):
1. To improve understanding of the disease cycle in swedes
2. To use artificial inoculation to identify key timings for infection and disease development
3. To prepare a final report that includes comparison with existing knowledge from oilseed rape