New tools for the biological control of the exotic pathogen phytophthora cinnamomi

At a time when society demands a significant reduction of chemicals to control pests and pathogens in food production, it is necessary to look for more sustainable, effective, and environmentally friendly plant disease control alternatives. In this way, bioactive compound from plants and antagonistic microorganism with fungicide action are becoming increasingly important in the biological control strategies. This proposal aims to determine the effectiveness of chalcones, simple aromatic plant components, against phytopthora cinnamomi one of the main soilborne pathogens affecting agricultural systems worldwide. The effectiveness of two chalcones, individually and combined, as well as a biological control agent(Pythium oligandrum), will be determined on microsclerotia germination and infectivity, as well as disease progression in plant by in vivo experiments using lupinus luteus as model species of the crops susceptible to phytopthora cinnamomi The results obtained in this proposal might provide key in sights of address current demanded by society regarding a more secure food production, with a more sustainable plant health in agriculture.