Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/590163
40 NOVEMBER 2015 GOOD FRUIT GROWER www.goodfruit.com Amiri will work on control of postharvest diseases. by Geraldine Warner P lant pathologist Dr. Achour Amiri has joined Washington State University with the goal of helping apple and pear producers control post- harvest diseases, particularly those that present phytosanitary concerns to export markets. One of his immediate goals is to assess resistance of pathogens such as gray and blue mold, bull's-eye rot, sphaeropsis rot and phacidiopycnis rot to available fungicides both in the field and in the packing house. WSU has been without a pome fruit p l a n t p a t h o l o g i s t since Dr. Chang-Lin Xiao left almost four years ago to join the U . S . D e p a r t m e n t o f A g r i c u l t u r e i n California, so cur- rent data on fungi- cide resistance in Washington tree fruit is lacking. Amiri, who is based at the Tree Fruit Research and Extension Center in Wenatchee, hopes to develop fast and reliable methods for screening resistant pathogens. "It would be very important to know to what extent resistance has developed," he said. "Has it spread more? Can we keep the previous recommendations or do we need to update those based on the resistance profile?" One of the challenges for pome fruit producers in Washington is the limited number of fungicides avail - able, particularly for postharvest use. Resistance of blue mold (Penicillium) and gray mold (Botrytis cinerea) to thiabendazole (TBZ) has been documented, but no screening has been done for Sphaeropsis pyriputrescens and Phacidiopycnis washingtonensis, which Xiao dis- covered in Washington only a decade ago. "For those two pathogens, we will be looking for ways to control them," Amiri said. "We need to understand how they develop and how they spread and know what are the most effective fungicides against those species in order to give better recommendations to growers and packers." He also hopes to evaluate the efficacy of fungicide application methods, such as drenching versus fogging, and to find ways for organic growers and packers to control postharvest decays, since most of the available postharvest treatments are not approved for organic. Pome fruit pathologist joins WSU Achour Amiri PHIL BROWN WELDING CORP. PHIL BROWN WELDING CORP. PHIL BROWN WELDING CORP. Phone (616) 784-3046 • Fax: (616) 784-5852 • 4689–8 Mile Rd NW, Conklin, Michigan 49403 www.philbrownwelding.com Box Rotator Box Shuttle Double Fork Ground Hog Frost Fan Economy LIft 3-Point Forks 3-Point Hi Lift Conveyors Freight-Mate Durand Wayland Sprayers WE OFFER A FULL LINE OF FRUIT & VEGETABLE EQUIPMENT: Contact Vine Tech Equipment, your Northwest Phil Brown Dealer 509-788-0900 www.vinetechequipment.com A properly planted tree produces like no other. • Adjustable tree depth. • Works on stony and tough ground. • Shoe swings for handling. • Electronic distance marker also available. • Two row tool bar available. Tree Planter Self-Propelled Work Platform Hydraulic Work Platform (sold separately) can be mounted on any available running gear. See us at NW HORT EXPO and at the GREAT LAKES EXPO