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Biological control of Chestnut Blight for maintenance of Castanea ecosystem


Project Type: Nacional / Público
Financial Program: PRODER - Medida 4.1
IPB Funding Value: 269794.19 €
Principal Investigator: Maria Eugénia Madureira Gouveia
Start: 2012-05-01
End: 2015-04-05
Description: Exploit the beneficial effects of the hypovirulent strain of Cryponectria parasitica for Chestnut Blight disease control is the main subject of the project. The research program will require morphological and molecular characterization of resident populations of the parasite and the introduction of the biological control agent, the hipovirulent strains of C. parasitica, on the blighted and cankered chestnuts. Mass production of the biological control agent and formulation that allows practical utilization will also be developed. Generated data will improve the biocontrol method as well as build up and design models for predicting efficacy and natural spread of the introduced biocontrol agent.