Division of Biotechnology and Plant Health
Strategies and methods to manage major pests and diseases of onion (‘QualityOnion’)
End: nov 2027
Start: jan 2024
Onion fly and Fusarium basal rot represent major threats for sustainable Norwegian onion production. There are substantial gaps in our knowledge regarding these pests such as which Fusarium species infect onions in Norway, what are the main sources of Fusarium inoculum, and how onion fly prevalence is changing through the growing season.
Project participants
Annette Folkedal Schjøll Anne Muola Gunda Thöming Silje Kvist Simonsen Ole Morten Nyberg Harald Osa Kari Aarekol Lars-Arne Høgetveit Merete Dæhli Gabriela Lundberg Gunnar Wærsted Arne Gillund Erik Lysøe John Clarkson Quentin Schorpp| Status | Active |
| Start - end date | 03.01.2024 - 30.11.2027 |
| Project manager | Belachew Asalf Tadesse |
| Division | Division of Biotechnology and Plant Health |
| Department | Fungal Plant Pathology in Forestry, Agriculture and Horticulture |
As the development of integrated pest management (IPM) strategies relies heavily on an understanding of pest biology, ecology, epidemiology, and environmental factors conducive to epidemic development, the knowledge gaps related to onion fly and Fusarium spp. hamper researchers’ and advisors’ ability to deliver sound and evidence-based IPM recommendations to both onion sets and food onion producers for the control of Fusarium basal rot and onion fly.
By focusing on these knowledge gaps, the QualityOnion will develop new Fusarium detection and quantification methods, study how to combat the different Fusarium species infecting onions in Norway, develop a monitoring system and forecasting model for onion fly and study whether infestation by arthropod pests can predispose onion to Fusarium and vice versa.
The QualityOnion will substantially improve our knowledge and understanding of Fusarium basal rot and onion fly. We hypothesize that improved knowledge of diagnostics, monitoring, forecasting, as well as interactions between fungal and arthropod pests, will improve the IPM strategies, and thus, help onion producers to reduce the yield losses related to onion fly and Fusarium basal rot. In addition, the QualityOnion contributes to reduced production costs and antiresistance strategies by guiding the use of pesticides only where and when necessary.
Altogether, the QualityOnion helps to extend the time that Norwegian onions are available on the market. By promoting profitability, food safety, and food security, the QualityOnion project will make a major contribution to sustainable onion production in Norway.