Bekämpfung von Microdochium nivale (Schneeschimmel) auf Weizen mit Präparaten auf Pflanzenbasis

Snow mold, caused by the fungal pathogen Microdochium nivale, is an important seed-borne disease of various cereals and fodder plants, leading to reduced stands after emergence. No agricultural measures are known to prevent snow mold, hence, direct control measures are needed. For organic agriculture, seed dressing with plantbased products could be an alternative. In contrast to spray treatments onto the crop, the formulation and application of plant preparations onto seeds represents a greater challenge in terms of adhesion, persistence, and lasting efficacy. In the current study, three plant-based powders applied with two different seed coating materials were tested for their efficacy against MN of wheat. Both adjuvants demonstrated equally satisfying adhesion and showed no differences in terms of disease control. One of the plant-based preparations reduced in vitro the MN infestation of a naturally infected seed lot by 50%, whereas in vivo, it increased emergence of wheat seedlings by 71%