ORDIAmur

Duration: From Nov 1, 2015 until Mar 31, 2025

About the Project:

ORDIAmur aims at gaining a deeper understanding of the processes resulting in replant disease in order to develop tools for overcoming the disease. For the soil strategies to restore organismic communities will be established. On the plant site tolerant rootstocks shall be developed.

Project Aim

ORDIAmur aims at gaining a deeper understanding of the processes resulting in replant disease in order to develop tools for overcoming the disease. To restore organismic communities of healthy soils, strategies will be developed based on catch crop cultures and application of beneficial microorganisms.

Motivation

Replant disease, also described as soil decline, is known since decades, the causes, however, are not understood. Poor vegetative development, stunted growth and reduced yield are visible plant reactions. In annual plants, crop rotation and partially changing the cultivation sites are measures to overcome replant disease. These possibilities are usually not available for woody species being produced in nursery and fruit production centers. Replant disease is of special importance for members of the Rosaceae family, but has also been reported for some other crops, e.g. vine. The replant diseased soils can not be used for up to 20-30 years, unless soil disinfection is applied. The used substances are ecologically harmful, and the development of other approaches is absolutely essential to maintain a sustained soil productivity.

Expected Results

1. Prediction of presence or absence of soil decline by bio-tests, plant and soil indicators.; 2. Overcoming replant disease by: Measures to increase the microbial diversity in the soil, Inoculation of plants with beneficial endophytes to achieve “immunization”.; 3. Implementation of operational innovations into considerations of social economic prerequisites.; 4. Transfer of the ORDIAmur consortium results into public (internet platform).;