Determining risk of soilborne (SBD) diseases before planting using soil testing has been explored as part of A Lighter Touch-New Zealand Buttercup Squash Council project, which aims to develop an agroecological “whole of farm” approach to soilborne disease management in buttercup squash.
Soilborne diseases are a major problem in Buttercup Squash, which cost growers an average of $20 million a year in lost revenue.
Trevor Lupton, Horticultural Consultant and Dereck Ferguson, Ferguson Agronomy Limited co-authored an article for the September issue of NZ Grower/The Orchardist discussing the project’s findings around whether qPCR technology can be used to predict soilborne disease pre-planting.
Read the article here.
