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Bioera is a company that uses the latest scientific advances in biotechnological processes and methodologies applicable to agriculture. It designs laboratory solutions to real problems in the field and develops innovative microbial programs through the formulation of products based on microorganisms that are beneficial to plants.
In the case of olive groves, Bioera has spent two years working in the field to develop a very specific and highly effective microbial program. The study, as explained by the company, was initiated “after the observation in olive groves of an increasing incidence of verticillosis that did not rule out the possibility of other diseases produced by a group of soil pathogenic fungi with similar symptoms. These diseases present progressive and rapid symptoms, starting with a decline that often leads to the death of the trees”.
The main phytopathogenic fungi found in soils with affected trees are Verticillium, Pythium, Phytophtora and Fusarium. “In many cases, diagnosis is difficult both because of the similarity in the symptoms caused by these fungi and because of the false negatives produced by analytical tests that can mask the presence of these fungi. This difficulty in diagnosis is compounded by the lack of effective control measures in the cultivation systems of the olive grove, both in conventional management and in integrated production and organic, where the limitations are even greater and also its spread, “emphasize from Bioera.
With all this, they assure that in the so called ‘Dry olive tree ‘ “there is usually the grouped participation of more than one of these pathogens, mainly in a certain period of affectation (spring and autumn), in areas of waterlogging and in more susceptible varieties”. In any case, they add, “the affectation is manifested in the trees presenting an evident lack of vigor and dry branches that lead to a progressive decay that usually ends in the death of the plant”.
In response to the various origins of the problem and its consequences, Bioera developed its Induced Vigorization and Activation of Systemic Resistance Program (PVAR), “a microbial strategy to stimulate the vigorization and defensive response of trees”. The biotech company points out that its PVAR is based on “applications of a combined cocktail of PGP bacteria of the Bacillus genus with protective action against soil pathogenic fungi(Verticillium, Pythium, Phytophtora and Fusarium) and with invigorating activity through the promotion of natural phytohormones. Each application is accompanied by a carbon source that stimulates and activates beneficial bacteria; and the optimum application times are during sprouting, flowering and hardening”.
They also add that the purpose of this program is to create an “unfavorable environment for infestation by promoting the stimulation of plant growth and the activation of Induced Systemic Resistance (ISR). The Bacillus cocktail has a protective action against the advance and growth of pathogenic fungi, competitive action for available iron, root growth promoting action by the production of siderophores and auxins; and action to stimulate the tree’s natural defenses by the production of secondary metabolites, surfactins, flagellins and 2,3-butanediol”.
With the application of the PVAR Program, Bioera emphasizes, “it has been possible to correct the depressive effects caused by pathogens, the decay of the trees and the reduction of progressive mortality, and all this with microbial products, free of pesticide residues and suitable for all types of agriculture”.
To conclude, Bioera emphasizes that the results obtained “not only confirmed its efficacy but also, during two consecutive years, additional effects were observed in the increase of olive fat yield in the treated trees (from 2.5 to 9.1% with respect to the untreated trees)”.
