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Horticulturae
Volume 12
Issue 6
10.3390/horticulturae12060673
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Article

Integrated Strategies to Reduce Botryosphaeriaceae-Associated Dieback in Avocado Under Mediterranean Climatic Stress

by
Lucía Guirado-Manzano
1,2,
José Francisco Santamaría-Ortega
3,
David Sarmiento
3,
Emilio Guirado
2,
Marina Pulido-Ruiz
1,2,
Antonio de Vicente
1,
Dolores Fernández-Ortuño
1,2,
Francisco M. Cazorla
1,2 and
Eva Arrebola
1,2,*
1
Departamento de Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Málaga, Bulevar Louis Pasteur 31, 29010 Málaga, Spain
2
Instituto de Hortofruticultura Subtropical y Mediterránea “La Mayora” (IHSM), Bulevar Louis Pasteur 49, 29010 Málaga, Spain
3
Departamento Técnico de TROPS-SAT2803, Polígono Industrial “El Trapiche”, 29719 Málaga, Spain
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Horticulturae 2026, 12(6), 673; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae12060673 (registering DOI)
Submission received: 16 April 2026 / Revised: 18 May 2026 / Accepted: 26 May 2026 / Published: 28 May 2026
(This article belongs to the Section Plant Pathology and Disease Management (PPDM))
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Abstract

Avocado (Persea americana Mill.) is gaining economic relevance in Mediterranean regions such as southern Spain. In recent years, production has been severely affected by dieback caused by Botryosphaeriaceae species, a problem intensified under drought conditions. Conventional chemical control has shown limited effectiveness due to the scarce availability of fungicides and the difficulty of targeting pathogens colonizing lignified tissues. This study therefore evaluated eco-friendly control strategies comparing their performance with conventional fungicides and complementary cultural practices within an integrated management framework. Varietal tolerance significantly influenced symptom development and yield, with younger trees (1–2 years old) being more susceptible. Among the tested treatments, potassium silicate (K-Link) was associated with moderate reduction in disease intensity, with decreases in disease index ranging from 5–10%. Other products, including the biostimulant Brotolom® SOILFORCE (BTL) and the disinfectant Huwa San® TR50, also showed reductions in disease severity (approximately 5% and up to 14%, respectively), although their effects varied depending on cultivar and season. Cultural practices such as autumn pruning reduced symptoms and improved yield but required greater economic and labor inputs. In contrast, gibberellic acid was highly effective, reducing flowering, improving canopy balance, decreasing dieback incidence by 28%, and increasing yield by 34%. Integrating eco-friendly products, particularly potassium silicate, with targeted cultural practices and gibberellic acid application provides effective and sustainable tools to mitigate avocado dieback under Mediterranean conditions.
Keywords: Neofusicoccum; potassium silicate; gibberellic acid; autumn pruning; integrated disease management; eco-friendly control; avocado Neofusicoccum; potassium silicate; gibberellic acid; autumn pruning; integrated disease management; eco-friendly control; avocado
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MDPI and ACS Style

Guirado-Manzano, L.; Santamaría-Ortega, J.F.; Sarmiento, D.; Guirado, E.; Pulido-Ruiz, M.; de Vicente, A.; Fernández-Ortuño, D.; Cazorla, F.M.; Arrebola, E. Integrated Strategies to Reduce Botryosphaeriaceae-Associated Dieback in Avocado Under Mediterranean Climatic Stress. Horticulturae 2026, 12, 673. https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae12060673

AMA Style

Guirado-Manzano L, Santamaría-Ortega JF, Sarmiento D, Guirado E, Pulido-Ruiz M, de Vicente A, Fernández-Ortuño D, Cazorla FM, Arrebola E. Integrated Strategies to Reduce Botryosphaeriaceae-Associated Dieback in Avocado Under Mediterranean Climatic Stress. Horticulturae. 2026; 12(6):673. https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae12060673

Chicago/Turabian Style

Guirado-Manzano, Lucía, José Francisco Santamaría-Ortega, David Sarmiento, Emilio Guirado, Marina Pulido-Ruiz, Antonio de Vicente, Dolores Fernández-Ortuño, Francisco M. Cazorla, and Eva Arrebola. 2026. "Integrated Strategies to Reduce Botryosphaeriaceae-Associated Dieback in Avocado Under Mediterranean Climatic Stress" Horticulturae 12, no. 6: 673. https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae12060673

APA Style

Guirado-Manzano, L., Santamaría-Ortega, J. F., Sarmiento, D., Guirado, E., Pulido-Ruiz, M., de Vicente, A., Fernández-Ortuño, D., Cazorla, F. M., & Arrebola, E. (2026). Integrated Strategies to Reduce Botryosphaeriaceae-Associated Dieback in Avocado Under Mediterranean Climatic Stress. Horticulturae, 12(6), 673. https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae12060673

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