Soilborne disease management
Soilborne diseases (SBD), caused by several pathogens, are causing significant losses in New Zealand Buttercup squash production. Growers have individually studied the issue in isolation and implemented their own control measures with little or varied success. There is a requirement to develop an agroecological “whole of farm” approach to manage SBD in squash and other crops grown in rotation.
This project will provide strategies to help growers minimise yield and financial losses caused by SBD. This will be achieved by collating overseas and New Zealand literature and practical knowledge into an agroecological approach, Best Management Practice (BMP) guide to managing SBD. New biological controls will be trialled and incorporated into model farm systems to demonstrate best practice and emerging technology to growers.
Watch a video case study, check out grower resources, or read about this project below:
- June 2023: New project focuses on diseases causing huge losses in export crop
- January 2024: Trials and research underway into soilborne diseases
- April 2024: Squash findings relevant to other cucurbit growers
- August 2024: Squash project trials ‘A Lighter Touch’ approach
- Buttercup Squash Grower Survey 2024
- November 2024: Growers show appetite for agroecological crop protection
- February 2025: Grower input essential to project success
- September 2025: Can soil testing predict soilborne disease before planting?
- December 2025: A lighter touch in buttercup squash field demonstrations
- May 2026: Toolkit to support soilborne disease management
Grower Resources
- Download the Soilborne disease management in Buttercup squash report (October 2025); This report, produced as a part of the New Zealand Buttercup Squash Council-ALT project, provides an overview of SBD of buttercup squash which are present in New Zealand and includes a comprehensive assessment of potential methods to control these diseases based on literature and research.
- Download the Buttercup Squash Soilborne Disease Toolkit (May 2026); This grower toolkit brings together the work from the ALT Buttercup Squash Soiborne Disease Management project. It explains the factors that lead to a buildup of pathogens and identifies the main pathogens affecting buttercup squash. It then outines strategies growers can consider to reduce the impact of disease including crop rotation, service crops, biological controls and other approaches.
