An East Coast-based research group is investigating fungicide resistance in Alternaria, a pathogen that causes head rot in broccoli. Nicknamed “Control Alt Delete”, the project is funded by the Specialty Crops Research Initiative and led by Bhabesh Dutta at the University of Georgia. Collaborators include Eastern Broccoli trial leaders Christy Hoepting and André da Silva, as well as other researchers from Georgia, Virginia, New York, and Nebraska. The project’s website is https://alternariabroccoliproject.uga.edu/welcome/.

Symptoms of Alternaria infection in broccoli often start on leaves, with small dark spots that form concentric rings as they grow. If the infection reaches the broccoli crown, it causes patches of rot that make the head unmarketable. In recent years, fungicides that previously provided control of Alternaria have failed due to the development of resistance, causing economic losses for some growers (see 21 November 2018 post on this blog).

The Control Alt Delete group will study the biology, population structure, and fungicide profile of Alternaria species in eastern production regions and investigate how different production practices, environmental conditions, and sources of inoculum (weeds and seeds) contribute to outbreaks. Ultimately, they will produce a diagnostic tool for Alternaria and develop environmentally and economically sound management programs.

News, information, and research reports from the Control Alt Delete project will be posted on their website as the project progresses.  A link to the that site is also available on the Production Resources page of this one.