PROJECT R&D+I

TITLE
PSALERT - KIWI BACTERIAL CANKER: EXPLORING RESISTANCE MECHANISMS AND
CONTROL TECHNIQUES

HIGHLIGHTS
Strategies for control and resistance to PSA infection in kiwi culture

ABSTRACT
Actinidia deliciosa and Actinidia chinensis, the most economically important species of kiwifruit in
the world, are susceptible to Pseudomonas syringae pv. actinidiae (PSA), which was reported in
Japan, Korea, China, Italy, France, Portugal, Spain, Turkey, Chile, Switzerland, Australia and New
Zealand. The bacteria invades plants via stomata and wounds and obstructs the vascular tissues,
impairing plant development and inducing plant death. PSA symptoms are generally found in
spring and autumn due to the cool temperatures and high humidity. PSA spreads through kiwi
flower pollen, strong winds and heavy rainfall and also via footwear and tools. This disease proved
to be devastating to Portuguese and Italian orchards, with an 80 % reduction in kiwi fruit
production being reported in some cases. Disease control is very difficult and common bactericides
have deleterious to the environment, thus the development of sustainable control strategies
against PSA is of great importance. The key objectives of this project are to:

1) gain insight on which Actinidia spp. cultivars are naturally more resistant to PSA, having the
potential to be used in selective breeding programs; 2) determine physiological and metabolic
mechanisms related with PSA progression, which could allow a more precocious disease diagnostic;
3) identify key genes related with PSA resistance; 4) understand how plant nutrition and soil
quality influence the susceptibility of kiwi plants to PSA, to improve the resistance of the most
susceptible cultivars against PSA though optimized fertilization regimes; 5) evaluate the influence
of environmental-friendly plant elicitors on plant resistance against PSA and kiwi fruit quality. The
knowledge obtained in this project will allow the identification of key features related with
pathogen-host interactions during kiwi bacterial canker and the optimization of agronomic
practices focused on PSA control.

KEYWORDS
Kiwi, PSA, Control and Resistance to Infection

PROMOTERS / PARTNERS
Escola Superior de Biotecnologia Universidade Catlica Portuguesa (coordinator)

FINANCING PROGRAM EXECUTION DATE GLOBAL BUDGET

PTDC/AGR-PRO/6156/2014 2016-2019 188 822,00

CONTACTS E-MAIL PHONE

Susana Carvalho smcarvalho@porto.ucp.pt +351 22 558 0001