Nutrient management for disease control in tomato

Nutrient management is primarily targeted at optimising crop yield and fruit quality, although there is relatively little available information for growers on how to manage crop nutrition for enhanced disease resistance whilst maintaining yield and quality. This project will review, analyse and summarise current literature to identify links between nutrient management and the incidence and severity of pathogen attack in protected edible crops. Whilst the review will be broad in scope, specific examples with potential for application to tomato crops will be identified.

 

Results will be classified in relation to pathogen identity and lifestyle, for example, whether vascular, foliar or root infecting; fungal, bacterial or viral; biotroph, nectrotroph or hemibiotroph. The degree of disease control achieved from published work will be evaluated and the potential application to current growing practices summarised. Whilst this work focuses on hydroponic crops, there is potential for soil grown crop data to provide insights for effective disease suppressing nutrient management. The likely extent to which nutrient management could control disease will be quantified where possible, and factors influencing how widely applicable techniques would be in a commercial production environment will be discussed. It is also important to review sources for reliability and robustness if they are to inform on future management practices.