Browsing by Subject "caraway"

Caraway (Carum carvi L.) belongs to the plant family Apiaceae and is grown for its aromatic seeds. In the year 2011 caraway was grown on 20500 hectares in Finland. Most of it is located in Ostro-bothnia, Southern Ostrobothnia, Tavastia, Finland Proper and Uusimaa regions. The yield quality and quantity of caraway produced in Finland is good, hence making it a valuable export crop. However, the quality and quantity of caraway yield can be affected by plant pests, like weeds, insect pests and plant diseases. This thesis was part of research conducted within Superior Caraway Chain –project. The research aimed to survey the state of caraway cultivations and occurrence of plant pests. The main focus of this thesis was on plant diseases affecting caraway in Finland. Special interest was targeted on differ-ences in white mold occurrence and biodiversity of fungi colonizing caraway seeds within common cultivation areas in Finland. Also the possible effect of different soil preparation and yield drying methods on the fungal populations on caraway seeds were evaluated. The results indicated that white mold is quite common in Finnish caraway cultivations. However, it was noticed that the severity of the problem varies between different areas and harvest years. Infec-tion risk seemed to be bigger in the area of Ostrobothnia and in older caraway plantations (e.g. second harvest year). In addition to white mold also different kind of necrotic spots and lesions were detected from the stems and stem bases. It seems that the most important agents causing these symp-toms are Fusarium- and Mycocentrospora acerina- and possibly Alternaria- and Phoma complanata-fungi. These fungi were also detected on caraway seeds. Other common fungal pathogens isolated from the seeds were Aureobasidium-species and Botrytis cinerea. In addition to the pathogenic agents also many kind of saprophytic fungi that able to produce mycotoxins, were isolated from the seeds. Statistical analysis suggested that cultivation area, harvest year and different soil preparation and yield drying methods can significantly affect the occurrence of some fungal pathogens in cara-way seeds. In addition to white mold, many fungal pathogens and disease agents that may pose a possible threat to Finnish caraway cultivation in future were found. At least for now, the disease situation of cara-way is under pretty good control in Finland and instead of diseases, insect pests and weeds are more problematic and important agents causing yield loss on caraway cultivations in Finland.