Kontext

There were 38,800 hectares of almond trees in Catalonia in 2016, and an increase in the irrigated area of 75% in the last 5 years. The positive outlook for the almond market, the need for alternative crops and the emergence of new varieties is leading to the establishment of new intensive plantations, with many positive results. Brown rot is one of the diseases that causes the most economic damage in almonds, as it affects the flower and recently set fruit, which has a direct impact on productivity. Control of the disease is based on cultural methods aimed at reducing the sources of inoculum of the pathogen, chemical treatments primarily during the blooming/fertilisation period, and the use of varieties with some degree of tolerance. Few fungicides have been recorded as controlling brown rot in almonds.


Changes in agricultural practices in almond growing have led to a significant increase in brown rot, which is more common in specific varieties, and this has given rise to an increase in fungicide applications. The epidemiology of Monilinia spp. in peaches and nectarines has been studied in some depth in recent years. However, most of the epidemiology relating to almonds is unknown, and this has prevented appropriate control measures from being designed.


In this context, this project aims to address the unknown factors related to: the significance of the damage caused by Monilinia spp. and its contributory factors, the epidemiology of brown rot, by correctly identifying the causative agent (M. laxa, M. fructigena or fructicola) and the existence of fungicide-resistant strains. Efficient and sustainable control programmes can be implemented if these questions are answered.