Researchers at the University of Kent, working with colleagues at East Malling Research, have made a breakthrough they say will prove vital for protecting the UK's stone fruit crops.

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Recent years have seen increased efforts from farmers and sustainability-minded public figures aimed at encouraging shoppers to consume more produce grown in the UK. Domestic fruits have enjoyed something of an increase in popularity, despite devastating weather in 2012. Even so, across the country, only around 12 percent of fruit consumed is grown here.  

In what they hope will be a boost for growers, researchers at East Malling and Kent University have identified a new way of controlling brown rot, a fungal disease that can wreck crops of stone fruits, such as cherry and plum.

Brown rot disease is caused by the agent Monilinia laxa. In addition to attacking fruit, it causes blossom wilt and twig canker. Traditionally, this has been controlled through the use of fungicide treatments, but in some cases these are becoming ineffective.

Using biological control agents derived from isolates from UK cherries and plums, the researchers claim they have managed to control the disease. Having identified 12 possible isolates (microbes that could protect fruit), the researchers narrowed them down to two via a series of tests on detached fruit. In these tests, sets of cherries and plums - with and without the biological control agents - were placed in conditions known to induce the onset of brown rot disease.

The two that performed best under controlled conditions will now be tested for possible use in the field. Working with commercial partners, the researchers are attempting to create biocontrol agents using the two strains. They will then undergo commercial trials.

Professor Peter Jeffries, of the University's School of Biosciences, said, "Brown rot disease is a major problem for the UK's cherry and plum producers and in a growing number of cases traditional fungicide treatments are becoming ineffective.

"Our research found that microbial antagonists against the brown rot disease can be found from indigenous sources in the UK and that they are capable of preventing the disease in controlled conditions. The challenge now will be to see whether these biocontrol agents can be adapted commercially and be used by the stone fruit industry to control brown rot disease."