Researchers at Canada’s University of British Columbia and Agriculture Canada’s agri-food station in Summerland, British Columbia are developing a DNA-based method to control fungal decay in apples in storage. Microbiologist Louise Nelson and plant pathologist Peter Sholberg say that by taking DNA from a sample, within 24 hours they know what pathogen they are dealing with and can identify a solution to tackle it. “Last summer we started taking samples in the orchards of spores in the air, apple blossoms and leaves and we sampled through the entire growth cycle of the apple,” said Nelson. “Three pathogens appear in the orchards but at different times. We hope to be able to develop a prediction method or model so when apples are harvested they will go into the packing house and we’ll be able tot take a quick test and if they are heavily contaminated, we won’t put them in storage. We’ll sell them right away or send them for processing.” Her team is also looking at different ways of detecting pathogens and hopes to be able to use the methods for other products. “There are also problems with greenhouse tomatoes, capsicum and strawberries,” said Nelson. “This new DNA method could also be used with grapes and other tender fruit.”

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