Biological control of Phytophthora ramorumon rhododendron

Phytophthora ramorum was found in Poland in 2000 as the causal agent of rhododendron blight. Besides eradication of diseased plants and rhododendron growing around, chemical and biological control of the pathogen is necessary. In this study in vitro activity of grapefruit extract and chitosan in the inhibition of P. ramorum growth and sporulation and their efficacy in the control of leaf and stem rot development was evaluated. Amendment of V8 juice agar and soil leachate with grapefruit extract resulted in the inhibition of colony growth and sporulation of P. ramorum. Zoosporangia were more susceptible to the extract than pathogen hyphae and chlamydospores. Chitosan only slightly inhibited the colony growth and zoosporngia production. Spraying of rhododendron inoculated with P. ramorum with grapefruit extract at conc. 165 microg/cm3 inhibited 2-3 times the spread of necrosis on stems and leaves. Pre- and postinoculation spraying of rhododendrons with chitosan at conc. of 1000 microg/cm3 suppressed the disease spread about 40%.