New solution to detect Pythium disease

Challenge

Plant root diseases caused by the Pythium fungus are the most common problem in modern greenhouse cultivation. In lettuce aquaculture, especially in summer, the typical yield loss is over 50%. In year-round cultivation of cucumbers, a 20% yield loss is common. Pythium root rot caused by the pythium fungus causes problems and decreases profitability in forestry as it affects the saplings as well. The main sources of the disease are irrigation water and growing medium, from which the farmer can in no way diagnose the disease himself before the start of cultivation.

Solution

Luke has developed a kit of screened, pasteurized and fertilized peat with the addition of a substance that stimulates the infection of the Pythium fungus. The farmer puts growing peat in a pot, on the surface of which a 2 cm layer of the preparation is added for testing irrigation water or for examining the medium by mixing the medium and the test substance. Cucumber seeds are sown in the pot. In the water test, the pot is irrigated with the irrigation water under study and in the substrate test with tap water. Seed sprouting and the degree of disease of the seedlings indicate the amount and intensity of the disease.

Benefits

The farmer can self-verify the pathogenic Pythium fungus in water or medium in about 5 days when the biotechnological laboratory study lasts at least 1-2 weeks. Biotechnological study alone never determines the pathogenicity or quantity of a fungus.

Luke is looking for a partner to develop the test kit for market and offers licensing and sales opportunities.