22 amaryllis growers have already signed up for the fusarium research that will be taking place this year. In the coming days the members of the national committee Amaryllis of LTO Glaskracht Nederland will approach other growers to register too.
Fusarium is an increasing problem in the cultivation of amaryllis. Some steps have already been taken in the study to begin finding a solution. In autumn 2015 antagonists were sought against the various types of fusarium. These antagonists were tested on a laboratory scale. The initial results have been positive. Early December a pot trial was set up investigating if healthy bulbs can be infected easily with Fusarium proliferatum, Fusarium oxysporum and Fusarium solani. The pot trial is currently being rounded off and the bulbs will be evaluated this week.
The next pot trial is scheduled for mid-March. Hereby the optimal infection method will be applied. The test will be to see whether the antagonists that worked on a laboratory scale also work against fusarium on perlite or clay granules.
