Lettuce disease models

Climate is changing and farmers have to spray less due to economic and legislative reasons. Some diseases are difficult to control and the timing of fungicide application is crucial in keeping them under control.

At Pessl Instruments, we developed disease model algorithms based on environmental parameters collected from growers’ cloud-connected weather stations linked to the biology and the life cycle of over 80 different diseases to predict their development and progression in more than 45 different crops.

How do they work?

All the disease models are based on the latest research work from different scientists and measured with highly accurate sensors. METOS® weather stations, equipped with sensors for rain, relative humidity, leaf wetness, solar radiation, soil parameters and temperature, connected to our disease model subscription, determine risky periods for an infection in the field on an hourly basis. With this information, fungicide applications can be optimally timed.

Lettuce disease models

Downy Mildew, Grey Mould and Leaf Spots of Lettuce: Lettuce is susceptible to various fungal pathogens (Bremia lactucae, Botrytis cinerea, Septoria lactucae, Cercospora longissima, Microdochium panattonianum) and bacterial pathogens (Xanthomonas campestris pv. vitians) causing damages on leafs, mould in the head and leaf spots. Because the leaf is the harvested product, Downy Mildew, Grey Mould and Leaf spots can cause considerable damage under the right environmental conditions. In the present version FieldClimate is offering Models for the Infection by Downy Mildew, an Infection Model for Anthracnose and a Risk Model for Grey Mould.

• DOWNY MILDEW – Bremia lactucae
• ANTHRACNOSE – Microdochium panattonianumis
• GREY MOULD – B. cinerea