Improve The Health Of Your Soil and Suppress Charcoal Rot With BioFlora Products

Charcoal rot is a particularly challenging disease which impacts Australian strawberry growers. BioFlora has conducted a program on two Victorian strawberry farms, with the aim to suppress charcoal rot and increase fruit yield.

Caused by the soil-borne fungal pathogen, Macrophomina, charcoal rot is a crown rot disease which has resulted in significant losses within the strawberry industry. Charcoal rot has been extremely difficult to control with standard agricultural methods.

Our program was carried out from August 2017 to May 2018 on Coldstream and Wandin strawberry farms by La Trobe University.

Humates, nutrients and biological extracts were applied through irrigation, with our foliar nutrient treatments replacing the standard foliar program.

The BioFlora program was in addition to the grower’s existing fertilizer program.

The results from our program showed a positive increase in strawberry yield at both sites as well as a substantial reduction of macrophomina phaseolina at Coldstream.

Results are as follows:

SOIL
⦁ Reduction of 84% in Macrophomina phaseolina DNA concentration in the soil at Coldstream.
⦁ Wandin result did not show a scientific reduction in the macrophomina. This was due to the macrophomina being unevenly distribution over the site. There was significantly more macrophomina within the BioFlora area compared to the control area.

YIELDS
⦁ Both sites showed an increase in yields.
Coldstream 19% (measured by La Trobe University)
Wandin 15-20% (grower comment)

PRODUCTS

⦁ In vitro testing of products used.
⦁ Isogreen showed no inhibition when compared to the control. Is an excellent product to increase root mass.
⦁ Humega showed a 5% inhibition when compared to the control
⦁ 5-17-4 showed a 22.5% inhibition when compared to the control
⦁ Program combination Isogreen, Humega, Fulvex, 5-17-4 showed a 16% inhibition
⦁ Go Isolates® showed a 18% inhibition when compared to control. (New Product now available in Australia)

CONCLUSION

The use of the Bioflora program resulted in a 84% reduction in charcoal rot. It also increased the fruit yield by 15-20%, resulting in a return of $8.00 for every $1.00 spent purchasing Bioflora products.

Our Brisbane-based team at BioFlora are passionate about helping Australian farmers suppress charcoal rot and reap the benefits of increased fruit yield. Discover how we can improve the health of your soil and your fruit crops by phoning 0413 839 878.