A new study supported by the SCALE-it project, titled “The sustainable fungicide choline pelargonate inhibits Botrytis cinerea and Phytophthora infestans growth by altering membrane structure and lipid content”, has been published by researchers from the University of Trento, Fondazione Edmund Mach, Bi-PA and the University of Padova in Pesticide Biochemistry and Physiology. The interpretation of the study’s data was supported by SCALE-it.
The study investigates choline pelargonate (CP) as a sustainable fungicide against Botrytis cinerea and Phytophthora infestans, two widespread plant pathogens responsible for diseases including grey mould and late blight. Results show that CP inhibited their growth and spore germination by disrupting cell membranes and altering lipid content. The researchers also found that CP reduced the severity of B. cinerea on tomato plants.
The findings highlight choline pelargonate as a promising sustainable fungicide, while further research is needed to assess its effectiveness against plant diseases under controlled and field conditions.
The article is open access and available in the scientific publications section of the SCALE-it website as well as in the project’s dedicated Zenodo community.
About SCALE-it project
SCALE-it runs for 48 months and is funded under the European Union’s Horizon Europe programme (2021-2027), with co-funding from the Swiss State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI). The project is coordinated by FiBL Europe, with scientific leadership from FiBL Switzerland.
