Diseases caused by oomycete fungi cause extensive damage to horticultural crops every year, such as vines, potatoes, tomatoes and cucumbers. There are some agronomic measures that can reduce the level of infection, but not significantly below the level of economic damage. For this reason, vegetable and vine growers should look for combined methods, including chemical control of these pathogens. In fact, the most important way to control these diseases is the treatment of vegetation with different types of fungicides made by chemical synthesis. Due to errors in the application of these products, the number of applications has increased too much and a high resistance of oomycetes to the different active ingredients has appeared. For this reason, it is increasingly difficult and expensive to control oomycetes by chemical methods. On the other hand, these products also kill many beneficial organisms. They pose a high health risk to operators. Also, because of the high level of residues from these chemicals in fruit harvested from treated plants, there is a high risk for consumers.

The main objective of the project is to obtain new effective formulations with a positive impact on the environment, with antifungal action on oomycete fungi attacking horticultural crops and to valorise the antifungal potential of plants.

The project also stimulates the partnership between a research institute, two SMEs and an NGO, and facilitates the shortening of the path from scientific knowledge to the implementation of technological solutions with socio-economic impact, in line with market developments and needs.