MANAGEMENT OF CROWN GALL DISEASE

 

Following are suggestions on how to avoid the incidence of crown gall disease:       

 

· Use NOGALL™ when germinating seeds, striking cuttings, pruning, and at every transfer stage, i.e. repotting and lifting or at field planting;

· Avoid nursery soils known to have pathogenic Agrobacterium or heavy nematode infestations;

· Avoid clay soils subject to water logging or poor drainage;

· Source disease free plant material;

· Choose rootstocks that are less susceptible to crown gall;

· Remove and destroy galled plants as soon as possible;

· Avoid unnecessary damage to roots and cuttings;

· Disinfect pruning and propagating equipment frequently;

· Do not plant seedlings too deeply;

· Remember that NOGALL™ is a preventative treatment. It is not a curative treatment for plants that are already infected.

NOGALL™      

Professor Kerr and his team announced in 1988 that they were able to genetically splice out a small region on the genetic plasmid, which was responsible for the transfer of agrocin 84 from strain K84 to the pathogen bacteria.  This very significant achievement has resulted in strain K1026, an effective agrocin 84-producing derivative of strain K84, which still maintained the ability to control the pathogen, but without the capability of producing an immunity in the disease organism.  Use of K84 was stopped in Australia and replaced by K1026 to reduce the breakdown of biological control of crown gall.

 

Becker Underwood Australia commercially manufactures and markets K1026 under the product name of NOGALL™.  New BioProducts, Inc. is the exclusive importer for the US market.   

 

When susceptible plant material is dipped in a suspension of NOGALL™ prior to planting, the NOGALL™ K1026 bacteria act by colonizing the wounds and producing antibiotics, which inhibit the pathogen.  Note: NOGALL™ containing K1026 is ineffective against strains causing crown gall disease in grapes, apples, pears and some ornamentals.     

       

THE PEAT FORMULATION OF NOGALL™

· Is ideal for use when germinating seeds, striking cuttings, pruning or transplanting;

· Is a live bacterial culture contained in a finely ground pre-sterilized peat medium;

· Contains additive providing improved dip stability and better adhesion to plant materials;

· Has better shelf life:  up to twelve months in cold storage; 6 months at room temperature;

· Ensures better survival of the control agent bacteria at every stage of use;

· Is suitable to use on stone fruit trees (i.e. apricots, cherries, nectarines, peaches, plums and prunes), nut trees (i.e. almonds, pecans and walnuts), cane berries (i.e. boysenberries and raspberries), clematis, hops, kiwifruit, persimmons, roses and many ornamental annuals, trees and shrubs;

· Supplies over 1000 million Agrobacterium strain K1026/g of NOGALL™- equivalent to over 20 million K1026 bacteria/ml of dip;

· One 100g pack (1 unit), when mixed into a slurry with 1 gallon of water, treats up to 4,000 seeds, up to 1,000 1/4” cuttings and depending on their size, 100-200 bare root seedlings;

· Provides ease of transport;

· Has better tolerance to temperature fluctuations during shelf life.

 
         Note: Do not expose NOGALL™ to:     

· Extreme temperature for prolonged periods;

· Direct sunlight (UV light destroys the bacteria); or

· Pesticides, fertilizers, and chemicals which may harm the K1026 bacteria.

Control: NOGALL™