Protection methods

- During cultivation

It is practically impossible to control the development of this Pectobacterium once it is present in the taproot and stem of salads. When attacks are observed (often at the end of cultivation), the diseased lettuce must be quickly eliminated.

It is also advantageous to lower the humidity of the vegetation and to avoid as much as possible that the soil is too wet. This remark seems obvious when we know the biology of this bacterium. For this, it is necessary to avoid the irrigations by sprinkling when possible or to carry them out more in the morning than in the evening, so that the plants dry quickly during the day. This type of irrigation can be particularly dangerous near the harvest, especially if the sprinkling is not well managed over time. The shelters will be well ventilated in order to dry the vegetation following nocturnal condensation or sprinkler irrigation.

Work in plots when the plants are wet should be avoided; the risk of transmission of bacteria by contact is high. Great care will be taken to handle the plants with care during harvest and to refrigerate them promptly. Temperatures should be maintained close to 0 ° C during transport and storage of salads while preventing them from freezing.

We will eliminate the maximum amount of plant debris at harvest and we will avoid burying them in the ground because the bacteria can stay there relatively well.


- Next crop

Since this bacteriosis represents a non-negligible risk for future crops, producers will have every interest in implementing prophylactic measures to limit the installation and spread of this bacterium.

The crop rotations , implemented preventively to delay the onset of telluric pathogens, will limit its retention in the soil. The choice of species to cultivate is quite limited because this bacterium attacks many vegetables. We will preferentially choose insensitive crops, such as cereals, grasses or corn. The proximity of sensitive and / or already contaminated crops should be banned. Sensitive weeds should be removed.

Plots located in will be more readily used well-ventilated locations , favoring drying of the leaf blade. In production areas where it will be possible, we will choose to plant crops at a rather dry period of the year.

The soil preparation should be particularly careful. Good drainage of the latter will be favored. The manuring of the plants must be balanced, avoiding excess nitrogen. Culture conditions conducive to the appearance of "tip burn" or various injuries should be avoided.

The salads intended for the fourth range will be carefully harvested before overripe and quickly refrigerated. Batches of salads, which must be kept for a relatively long time or intended for the fourth range, must be chosen from plots free from this bacteriosis.

There are currently no varieties of salads on the market resistant to Pectobacterium carotovorum subsp. carotovorum . Lines of "leaf lettuce" showing some resistance have been found in Korea.


NB: The legislation on pesticides evolving very quickly, we advise you to consult the e-phy site of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries which is an online catalog of plant protection products and their uses, fertilizers and culture media approved in France. This also applies to all biological products based on microorganisms or natural substances.