LabCom Alternatives Methods to Chemical Treatments in Hydrangea – LabCom MATCH

The horticultural sector misses research on alternative methods to chemical treatments and is likely to face huge difficulties due to the withdrawal of numerous molecules from the market (ECOPHYTO Plan). Yet, the production of hydrangeas requires growth regulators, fungicides as well as blueing agents to produce compact and healthy plants with blue inflorescences.

Hortensia France Production (HFP) is the leading Hydrangea company in France and holds the third place at the EU level. This company grows green stage hydrangea that are sold to forcers. Involved since 2007 in an initiative aiming to reduce chemical inputs (MPS label), HFP wants to increase knowledge on hydrangea biology (plant response to environment, defence mechanisms, genetics). This scientific knowledge will be of paramount importance to i) establish alternative and sustainable technical procedures to reduce Botrytis disease (a fungus responsible for the loss of a high number of plants both during cold storage and in greenhouse) and obtain dwarfness and blue colour and ii) develop tools that help characterize the needs of each hydrangea variety for precision procedures.

New avenues have been found for innovation in other horticultural species; they need to be investigated to find sustainable solutions for hydrangea production. By combining the scientific expertise of the Research Institute on Horticulture and Seeds (IRHS UMR 1345) and the know-how of HFP company in hydrangea production, LabCom MATCH will focus on the research of Alternative Methods to Chemical Treatments on Hydrangea. LabCom MATCH will mainly use the multidisciplinary approaches of integrative biology developed by IRHS to work on the following 3 research axes:
First Axis: Development of alternative method to fungicides: search for a biocontrol product against Botrytis, study of the effects of UV light and mechanical stimulation on Botrytis disease, development of an early detection system of the disease by imaging and artificial intelligence, study of metabolic, molecular and genetic markers characterizing the resistance level of hydrangea varieties to Botrytis; Second axis: Development of alternative methods to dwarfing molecules: Study of the effects of mechanical stimulation and visible light on hydrangea compactness, high-throughput analysis of hydrangea phenotype and identification of morphological markers for compactness, Third axis: adjustment of autumnal fertilization and of aluminium sulphate (blueing agent) inputs : study of varietal needs for fertilizers and aluminium sulphate, development of phenotyping methods to assess plant response to nutrients and blueing agent, development of a tool for precision fertilization, identification of markers for blueing ability.

LabCom MATCH will generate remarkable knowledge on plant-environment-pathogen interactions. LabCom MATCH will contribute to broaden IRHS know-how to a new ornamental plant. The new knowledge and methods will be published in international scientific journals. Concerning the company, LabCom MATCH results will allow i) reaching a high level of sustainability. Cost reduction in chemical inputs and reduction in plant losses due to Botrytis will generate a net increase in the turnover of the company. LabCom MATCH will generate several innovations: short terms (3-5 years: sustainable cultural process adapted to each variety, web service to follow plant development using high through-put phenotyping, Decision-making tools based on molecular, genetic and metabolic markers, encapsulated-aluminium,) and longer term (6-10 years: a biocontrol product against Botrytis). These innovations will be valued by both partners either through know-how transfer, or services or patents towards other hydrangea producers and even other ornamental sectors.