Evaluation of a new biopesticide against angular leaf spot in a commercial operation system

Angular leaf spot is a bacterial disease caused by Xanthomonas fragariae. This disease can be problematic in eastern Canada and growers have very limited management tools. Copper-based products have been used with limited success and were found to cause phytotoxicity under certain circumstances. Tivano is a new organic acid-based biopesticide (OAB) that has recently been registered in Canada against angular leaf spot of strawberry. The field trial was conducted in the province of Quebec during the summer of 2014 and aimed to evaluate the performance of the product within a commercial operation system on a day-neutral strawberry of the 'Seascape' cultivar. Maintenance sprays against fungi and insects were conducted during the trial in addition to the comparative treatment. Treatments were repeated at an average interval of 10 days during the two-month trial and applied with a tractor-mounted hydraulic sprayer. Angular leaf spot disease came from natural inocula. Disease incidence and severity were evaluated on 50 leaves in each of the four sampling zones, per experimental unit. OAB treatments were found to maintain disease suppression for the duration of the trial. These treatments were found to significantly reduce disease incidence under the low disease pressure that prevailed during the trial.