Advancing Sustainable Management of Cercospora Early Blight in Celery Production by Integrating Biocontrol and UAV Technology

Commodities

Practices

During on-farm visits and one-on-one meetings with growers, crop
consultants, and Extension agents in southern Florida, early
blight, caused by the fungal pathogen Cercospora apii,
emerged as the most important foliar disease affecting celery
production (Xavier 2022, personal communication). Florida plays a
crucial role as a major producer of vegetables for the fresh
market, including celery, supplying the nationwide demand during
the winter season. However, the detrimental effects of this
disease, characterized by stunted plant growth and damaged
leaves, pose a significant threat to the marketability of the
final product. To mitigate these yield losses, celery growers
rely on weekly fungicide applications as a preventive measure,
primarily due to the absence of alternative curative or
preventive measures. Therefore, there exists a critical need to
identify and establish sustainable management strategies for
C. apii. Failure to address the need for sustainable
management of early blight on celery production will result in
significant yield losses, reduced marketability, increased
chemical fungicide use, environmental and health risks, economic
strain on growers, and potential dissatisfaction among consumers,
posing threats to both the celery industry and the environment.
Our long-term goal is to develop sustainable and future-proof
solutions for controlling early blight in both conventional and
organic celery production systems. Our overarching goal is to
create both an early detection system and biocontrol products
against early blight on celery. Our central hypothesis is that it
is feasible to develop and implement more efficient,
environmentally sustainable, and socially beneficial management
strategies for early blight in celery production, resulting in
economic advantages for growers. We are well-positioned to lead
this project based on our 56-year partnership with celery
stakeholders in Florida, our access to cutting-edge technologies,
and our interdisciplinary team of experts. Moreover, our
dedication to community engagement ensures we understand local
concerns and needs, building trust vital for project success. We
plan to attain the overall objective by pursuing the following
two specific aims: 1) Develop a UAV-assisted disease monitoring
system to visualize and track disease onset and progression in
celery. Our working hypothesis is that current
machine/deep-learning algorithms have the capability to
accurately identify celery plants infected with C. apii.
Combining these algorithms with previously established C.
apii forecasting models will yield an effective
decision-making system for growers. 2) Identify, select, and
evaluate effective biological control agents against C.
apii for the management of early blight in celery. Our
working hypothesis is that the Everglades Agricultural Area
harbors a reservoir of powerful microorganisms with the capacity
to effectively control C. apii. Economic analysis will
guide the timing and optimization of the deployment of
controlling measures, ensuring a cost-effective approach for
growers. Upon the successful completion of this project, it is
our expectation that we will have established novel, economically
advantageous, and safe strategies for early detection of early
blight, advancing sustainable agriculture. This project offers
achievable and practical solutions for celery growers that, if
adopted, can enhance disease management practices, leading to
improved production outcomes and the overall ecosystem health.

Our central hypothesis revolves around the notion that more
effective and sustainable management of Cercospora early blight
in celery is not only attainable but also economically
advantageous. Below, we delineate four specific objectives, along
with their corresponding working hypotheses, research design, and
anticipated outcomes.

Objective 1: Develop a UAV-assisted disease
monitoring system to visualize and track disease onset and
progression in celery. (Drs. Xavier, Ferreira, and Wang’s
supervision).

Working hypothesis: Celery plants undergoing pre-symptomatic
stages of early blight have a distinctive spectral profile.
Current machine/deep-learning algorithms have the capability to
accurately identify celery plants infected with C. apii.
Combining these algorithms with previously established C.
apii forecasting models will yield an effective
decision-making system for growers.

Research design: Our experiment will focus on the early detection
of Cercospora early blight of celery, specifically at
pre-symptomatic stages. To achieve this, we will employ an
innovative disease monitoring system using AI-powered Unmanned
Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) equipped with multispectral cameras

Expected outcome: Substantial reductions in fungicide usage in
both organic and conventional cultivation systems, coupled with
enhanced control over Cercospora early blight.

Objective 2: Identify, select, and evaluate
effective biological control agents against C. apii for
the management of early blight in celery. (Dr. Ferreira and
Xavier’s supervision).

Working hypothesis: The EAA harbors a reservoir of powerful
microorganisms with the capacity to effectively control C.
apii.

Research design: We will employ a comprehensive research approach
that spans laboratory, greenhouse, and on-farm field trials. This
multifaceted strategy will enable us to identify, assess, and
validate potential biological control agents effective against
C. apii.

Expected outcome: A biopesticide product effective at commercial
celery production, and consequently reduction of contamination by
reducing chemical fungicide use.

Objective 3: Develop an economic analysis for
organic and conventional growers to manage Cercospora early
blight based on standard and new management practices. (Dr.
Guan’s supervision)

Working hypothesis: The proposed solutions proposed are
cost-effective, yielding a positive economic impact for growers
who adopt these technologies.

Research design: Economic analysis will be performed for the five
field trials to be conducted at this proposed project, comparing
standard management practices used by growers and the new ones
developed in this proposal. The goal is to provide growers with a
cost-benefit analysis to evaluate the profitability of the
proposed management practices.

Expected outcome: Empowerment of our approach, facilitating its
adoption among growers, and attracting new growers who recognize
the economic benefits of implementing these practices.

Objective 4: Disseminate research findings and
educate growers about the benefits of biocontrol and UAV
technology via events and written publications. (MS Meszaros and
Dr. Xavier’s supervision).

Working hypothesis: Individuals and institutions already engaged
in the celery business will be interested in improving their
disease management practices, particularly when they discern the
potential economic gains.

Expected outcome: Increased awareness of improved C.
apii management practices as well as adoption of the
proposed solutions among celery growers, enabling them, workers,
and society at large to seize of potential benefits provided by
each solution.