Page 33 - Green knowledge 2024

Photo: Silje Kvist Simonsen
Fragrant pest control in forest nurseries
Forest nurseries rely on chemical pesticides to control diseases. Researchers at NIBIO are
now exploring the use of “friendly” bacteria and plants’ own immune systems as
alternatives.
Every year, 40 million spruce trees are planted in
Norway. In forest nurseries, young plants grow
densely before being transplanted, making it easy for
diseases to spread. The fungal disease grey mould is
particularly challenging. Chemical fungicides are
used to combat the disease, but their use poses risks
to both human health and the environment. Addi-
tionally, grey mould easily develops resistance to
these treatments.
Researchers at NIBIO are currently investigating
ways to reduce pesticide use by enabling plants to
defend themselves against disease.
“When a spruce tree is under attack, it releases
methyl jasmonate, a chemical that smells like jas-
mine flowers,” explains NIBIO researcher Dr Melissa
Magerøy. “This substance acts as a warning signal to
other trees, alerting them to prepare their defences.
If a tree detects methyl jasmonate, it can activate its
defence system pre-emptively. This makes the tree
more resistant to diseases and pests,” she adds.
Dr Magerøy leads a project to treat spruce seeds and
young plants with methyl jasmonate and “friendly”
bacteria to enhance their resilience. The friendly bac-
teria naturally live in the soil around spruces. They
can either directly inhibit pathogens or release sub-
stances that stimulate the spruce tree’s own immune
response.
In this project, researchers are working closely with
industry partners to tackle practical, real-world
issues. They believe the combination of methyl jas-
monate and friendly bacteria will be effective in com-
bating grey mould.
Purpose: The project aims to explore whether the use of methyl jasmonate and “friendly” bacteria in forest
nurseries can reduce the need for chemical pesticides.
Collaboration: AgriBiotix AS and Skogplanter Innlandet
Funding: Norwegian Agriculture Agency
Contact: Research Scientist Melissa Magerøy, Division of Biotechnology and Plant Health.
Email: melissa.mageroy@nibio.no | Phone: +47 902 03 375
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