UNIDAD ASOCIADA "SISTEMAS AGROFORESTALES": ESTACIÓN FITOPATOLÓXICA DO AREEIRO - MISIÓN BIOLÓGICA DE GALICIA
|
UNIDAD ASOCIADA "SISTEMAS AGROFORESTALES": ESTACIÓN FITOPATOLÓXICA DO AREEIRO - MISIÓN BIOLÓGICA DE GALICIA |
|
|||
|
||||
|
||||
| Home » About Us » Research areas |
| Research areas |
ESTACIÓN FITOPATOLÓXICA DO AREEIRO RESEARCH AREAS
PLANT PATHOLOGY
The Plant Pathology Department works in the protection of agricultural and forestry species. In agriculture, our activity is mainly focused on the study of pathologies on grapevine, fruit species, and vegetables. In forestry, the following species are being studied: Pinus radiata, Pinus pinaster, Pseudotsuga menziesii, Castanea sativa, Eucalyptus globulus, Quercus robur.
And carrying out studies on taxonomy, epidemiology, and control both
in plantations and nurseries.
ORNAMENTALS AND CROP DEPARTMENT
Research work in our unit is directed in two lines:
Since 1985 we have been working on the agronomic behaviour of newly introduced species and the problems found in the proccess of adaptation and commercialization of these cultivars in the market.
These studies have been developed both in the EFA and other gardens and orchards in our province. Phenological stages, yield parameters, and quality of various species were controlled, focusing our work on kiwifruit Actinidia sinensis, Actinidia arguta, feijoa, mirabelle, cherry, etc. being some of these cultivars commercialized in Galicia.
Since 1987, studies on adaptation of small fruits, including reports on
the behaviour and phenology of some blackcurrant, blueberry, raspberry and
blackberry varieties, have been developed.
Kiwifruit has been the last fruit incorporated to the fruit
commercialization chain in Galicia, and since this plant was first introduced
in Galicia, the method of cultivation and the behavoiur of this plant has been
studied and improved.
We tried to understand the behaviour of the plant, and for years studies developed in the EFA were focused on improvement of the propagation method, pruning system, plant sanitary problems, etc. The phenological cycle of the plant was determined and subsequently recorded by the main productive plantations in order to establish the most important periods for each culture (shoot development, blooming period, etc...). A general reduction on fruit size was recorded, being this size determined by the quantity of fruit seeds (more than 1000) that varies depending on the number of pollen grains that reach the pistill.
In the last years, we have been working on the application of various products to improve fruit size, using various culture techniques and applicating pollen using various methods (in liquid medium, powder) so as to guarantee an average size of 100 grames per fruit.
ORNAMENTALS
Galicia has a humid climate, with mild temperatures and acid soils that favour camellia development. Nowadays the origin of the first introduced camellia plants is still unknown, mainly because of the lack of written documents to prove their origin and date of plantation.
During the 19th century, these plants were difficult to obtain due to their origin (China, Japan) and they were only growing in Pazos and manor houses belonging to the Galician nobility. But mostly on the second half of the 20th century camellia culture disseminated and now they are part of every garden in Galicia. They can be still seen in the gardens of manor houses, alone or together with other ornamental species, some indigenous, and other introduced. Although several camellia species are cultivated in Galicia, the most widespread is Camellia japonica, comprising hundreds of cultivars, and also the species Camellia sasanqua and Camellia reticulata. Thus, the camellia has become part of the historic and botanic heritage in the Galician garden.
Being a winter blooming shrub, there are increasingly more people from other regions interested in this plant that can be seen in almost every region in Spain. Because of the wide range of camellia forms and colours and the fact now there are cultivars living and blooming between 40 ºC and -20 ºC and that can be used to form structures and hedges, these plants are becoming famous.
La gran variedad de formas y colores de sus flores y el hecho de que actualmente existan cultivares que viven y florecen entre 40ºC y -20ºC, además de su fácil adaptación para formar estructuras y setos, hace que actualmente su cultivo esté en expansión.
Diputación Provincial de Pontevedra, has always been involved in camellia spread, specially from 1965 when the first camellia exhibit took place. In 1982, Diputación owned 35 camellia specimens in the gardens surrounding the Provincial government main building, and in 1982 when the Soutomaior castle was bought, 19 more specimens were added to the collection, from then on it turned into a collection of reference for growers and enthusiasts of this botanic genus. This camellia collection was initiated in 5 out of 25 ha in the Soutomaior Castle, and was increased in 1986 in the EFA gardens,. From 1986 to 2000, 325 new specimens were added with material from Galician nurseries, and from other countries such as France, England, USA and New Zealand and some of them were donated by individuals.
Entre 1986 y 2000 se incorporaron 325 ejemplares nuevos a la colección mediante material procedente de viveros gallegos, de Francia, Inglaterra, EEUU y Nueva Zelanda. En este periodo, se incorporaron además donaciones de coleccionistas particulares.
In the last 25 years, EFA research team has carried out research on camellia plant propagation, production and presevation, using the plant material from the provincial governement collection (gardens of the Palacio Provincial, Soutomaior Castle, Areeiro) and carried out surveys both in Galicia and north Portugal to retrieve camellia plant genetic resources.
At present, the number of plants from the collection, propagated and growing in pots in the nursery and/or plantation is more than 500, corresponding to 325 C. japonica , 41 C. sasanqua and 26 C. reticulata varieties, 64 hybrids and various cultivars from other 30 species obtained through coooperation with researchers in Japan and China. In these projects the phenology, sanitary condition and propagation is controlled.
Recently, propagation material from 35 varieties of Camellia japonica, two of Camellia sasanqua and one of Camellia reticulata has been added to this collection after surveying and collecting material from old specimens growing in Galician Pazos and Portuguese Quintas.
This material is part of a project to retrieve old camellia cultivars, funded by Xunta de Galicia (grant PGIDIT03RAG60301PR, programa de Recursos Agropecuarios ) during 2003-2005, to be continued in subsequent projects. The final aim is to characterice all the material obtained to determine the cultivar name, a dificult task because the information available in the International Camellia Register is scarce, poor and confusing and does not include photographs.
Our aim will be to locate, document and collect camellia germplasm in Galicia and north Portugal, defining and applying morphobotanic descriptors in order to identify both the species and cultivar. With the information collected from our study we will create technical sheets.
Since the morphological characters are unstable, and influenced by environmental factors, it is neccessary to use both traditional environmental techniques based on morphology and molecular techniques, since they are based on genetic traits of the plant, maintained stable, in spite of external factors.
In the last five years, EFA has developed techniques based on PCR to differentiate Camellia species and cultivars. The first step was to develop identification of Camellia using DNA techniques with three protocols using different plant material in three phenological stages.
For species differentiation, RAPDs technique was used, differentiating 8 species with four primers. At present, we are now characterizing C. japonica cultivars developing specific microsatellites for this species.
Propagation of tree ferns of species Cyathea cooperi and Dicksonia antartica has been complicated and non- viable using traditional methods. Thus, a technique for spore germination, protallus formation, and sporophyte in vitro, and subsequent transplanting to growing chambers under temperature and controlled moist conditions until they reach the adequate size has been developed.
This technique has been successfully transfered to the private sector, obtaining on average 10.000 specimens a year. At present, we are working on the propagation of native fern species, specially interesting for being endangered species, since their habitat is being destroyed by human beings. Among other species we are propagating Culcita macrocarpa, Pteris incompleta, Trichomanes speciosum, etc..
EDAFOLOGÍA
Since 1990 in the Soil Department two complementary activities have been conducted:
We work on Research Projects applied to agriculture: on the study of the mineral nutrition of cultures, and on the nutritional dynamics of the most representative cultivation systems in our province. We have participated on projects related to grapevine, shrub fruits and kiwi cultures; as well as studies on greenhouse cultures, being the latter representative in the irrigation and fertilization system.
A nutritional service for diagnosis is offered to gardeners and agricultural technicians. It is based on the chemical analysis of the soil as a primary testing objective, but using also complementary measures of diagnosis: leaf analysis, a monitoring of the symptoms, soil examination and knowledge about the soil typology; with all this information we decide which fertilizer or soil amendment works better for the type of culture that is being cultivated. In our department we perform around 1500 - 2000 soil analysis a year. Sometimes is necessary to carry out additional assays in specific situations.
INTEGRATED MANAGEMENT OF PESTS: Biological Control
Insect rearing: Gonipterus scutellatus, Phoracantha semipunctata, Ephestia kuehniella.
Insect rearing (beneficial): Anaphes nitens, Avetianella longoi, Orius majusculus, Macrolophus caliginosus, Chrysoperla carnea.
In this Department an optimization of the cultures protection against harmful agents is performed. The first laboratory of Biological Control in Galicia was created in 1993, when the first methods based on artificial breeding of beneficial organisms were initiated, as well as studies about beneficial entomofauna (The first survey about beneficial insects and mites identification on grapevine and orchards was carried out in our Investigation Center). New control methods of fungus and harmful insects are being initiated in experimental farms. A continuous breeding of beneficial insects with applications on the forest is performed: Anaphens nitens (parasite of the eggs of the agent of the eucalyptus defoliation, Gonipterus scutellatus Gyll.) and Avetianella longoi Siscaro (oophagous parasite of Phoracantha semipunctata F.); and breeding of beneficial organisms for agriculture: Chrysoperla carnea, Orius majusculus and Macrolophus caliginosus (feeding on Ephestia kuehniella, which is also bred in our laboratory) and breeding of Encarsia formosa and other beneficial organisms, in order to increase the number of biological products obtained artificially.
The production of Anaphes nitens has been commercialized since 1994, and after then many cooperation projects have been signed between our Investigation Center and different institutions and companies, in order to perform a biological control of this agent of defoliation both in Spain and Portugal. Assays of artificial releases are also being carried out with the rest of beneficial agents
New methods for the control of diseases and pests both in forestry and agriculture are being developed. We have optimized a method for the biological control of the powdery mildew on grapevine and we are developing effective methods to control other pathogens. Regarding pests, we are determining their treatment threshold and performing an integrated control using methods of sexual confusion. And, we always select environment friendly chemicals.