Novel fungi for biotic protection in strawberry cultivation

Abstract: Soft fruits like strawberries are highly susceptible to Botrytis cinerea, a widespread
fungal pathogen causing grey mould rot and affecting over 500 crops. Current control heavily
depends on chemical fungicides, but resistance and environmental concerns call for
alternatives. We developed a research workflow to identify fungal antagonists that suppress
Botrytis and combat other major strawberry diseases such as powdery mildew and anthracnose. The study will evaluate novel fungal strains using in vitro, in vivo, and in planta assays, emphasizing their multi-pathogen efficacy. Key to our approach is understanding the
antagonists’ interactions with Botrytis through transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses.
Ultimately, this project seeks to contribute to the development of more effective, sustainable
approaches to crop protection, aligning with national and European strategies for organic food production. The first results of the project are be presented.