14TSB_ATC_IR Control of Botrytis in fresh produce pre- and post-harvest environments by integrated UV-B, -C and ethylene removal treatment

The fungal plant pathogen, Botrytis cinerea, is estimated to cause losses of over £88 million per year to the tomato and cut flower industries in the UK, industries worth over £2.2 billion per year to the UK economy. This is in the form of reduced shelf life for fruits, reduced vase life for flowers, and the costs of current control methods by the growers, which are largely based on the use of fungicides. With the desire to reduce pesticide usage, the industry is working hard to secure zero residue production techniques. Ultraviolet light UVB and UVC treatments of plants pre and post-harvest are two such strategies with great potential. UVC works mainly preharvest by inducing resistance in plants against the fungus, whilst UVB works postharvest by removal of ethylene and retardation of plant senescence and fungal development. In this project we will be optimising regimes for UVB and UVC treatments of tomato and cut flowers pre and post harvest to obtain maximal disease control and maximal enhancement of post-harvest commercial properties of the produce (increased shelf-life/vase life). This will also include piloting automated methods for applications of the optimal doses in commercial settings. In addition, we will be using advanced molecular biology techniques to formulate a deeper understanding of the mechanisms through which the UVB and UVC treatments work to control the diseases. The resultant approaches are predicted to result in savings to the industry of up to £220 million over a five year period.

The fungal plant pathogen, Botrytis cinerea, is estimated to cause losses of over £88 million per year to the tomato and cut flower industries in the UK, industries worth over £2.2 billion per year to the UK economy. This is in the form of reduced shelf life for fruits, reduced vase life for flowers, and the costs of current control methods by the growers, which are largely based on the use of fungicides. With the desire to reduce pesticide usage, the industry is working hard to secure zero residue production techniques. Ultraviolet light UVB and UVC treatments of plants pre and post-harvest are two such strategies with great potential. UVC works mainly preharvest by inducing resistance in plants against the fungus, whilst UVB works postharvest by removal of ethylene and retardation of plant senescence and fungal development. In this project we will be optimising regimes for UVB and UVC treatments of tomato and cut flowers pre and post harvest to obtain maximal disease control and maximal enhancement of post-harvest commercial properties of the produce (increased shelf-life/vase life). This will also include piloting automated methods for applications of the optimal doses in commercial settings. In addition, we will be using advanced molecular biology techniques to formulate a deeper understanding of the mechanisms through which the UVB and UVC treatments work to control the diseases. The resultant approaches are predicted to result in savings to the industry of up to £220 million over a five year period.

The initial beneficiaries of this research will include UK tomato and cut flower retailers, British tomato growers and British UK and overseas cut flower producers. Through the involvement of these industries in this project, and through the activities of May Barn Consultancy as an interface between the science outputs and grower practice, the outcomes on efficacies of control regimes, combined with the feasibility of commercialisation of fully automated delivery systems will be delivered to commercial concerns and other relevant stakeholders. The potential commercial impact of reducing losses caused by botrytis has been estimated at up to £220 million over 5 years in the UK alone, with the added impact that the extended shelf-life of produce could allow producers to expand and consider export opportunities in appreciable quantities. The pathway to impact beyond the commercial partners is also likely to involve commercialisation of the automated UVC delivery system for glasshouse use. The aim of the project is to provide a blueprint/model for UVB and UVC delivery that will then be an opportunity for a commercial concern to produce and market the equipment as a commercial business for UK and overseas markets.