Troubsko, Czech Republic | 2021–2022
What happens when biological protection is tested across seasons? Field trials in Troubsko reveal how Pythium oligandrum performed against Sclerotinia sclerotiorum over two consecutive years.
Consistency over time is one of the greatest challenges in crop protection. Weather variability, disease pressure, and crop development differ from season to season — often exposing weaknesses in single-mode solutions.
To evaluate long-term performance, Biogama conducted field trials in Troubsko, Czech Republic, over two consecutive years (2021 and 2022), focusing on oilseed rape variety Kuga.
The goal was clear: assess whether biological protection delivers stable results across seasons.
Trial design across two seasons
Trial overview:
- Location: Troubsko, Czech Republic
- Years: 2021 and 2022
- Crop: Oilseed rape
- Variety: Kuga
- Target disease: Sclerotinia sclerotiorum
Applications covered multiple growth stages:
- autumn and early spring treatments,
- stem elongation,
- flowering (BBCH 65).
This approach allowed evaluation under diverse infection windows and environmental conditions.
Biological Positioning Across Growth Stages
To interpret the multi-year results correctly, it is important to understand how Pythium oligandrum interacts with Sclerotinia sclerotiorum throughout the growing season.
Biological protection in oilseed rape follows a staged strategy aligned with BBCH growth phases:
1. Application – BBCH 14–16
Dosage: 0.1 kg/ha
At early leaf development, Pythium oligandrum induces systemic resistance against fungal diseases and begins parasitising Sclerotinia sclerotiorum present in soil and crop residues.
2. Application – BBCH 30–39 (winter oilseed rape)
Dosage: 0.1 kg/ha
During stem elongation, the biological agent helps limit the development of apothecia in the topsoil around plants and supports post-winter regeneration, while maintaining induced resistance.
3. Application – BBCH 49–65
Dosage: 0.1 kg/ha
At flowering, Pythium oligandrum directly parasitises Sclerotinia sclerotiorum and contributes to suppression of secondary pathogens such as Botrytis cinerea, protecting stems during the most infection-sensitive stage.
By targeting multiple phases of the pathogen’s life cycle — from soil survival structures to flowering infection — biological treatment builds layered protection that supports consistent performance across seasons.
Results: consistent disease suppression
Across both years, Pythium oligandrum-based treatments demonstrated:
- reduced disease severity on whole plants,
- stable efficacy levels despite seasonal variability,
- reliable performance alongside reference products.
INSIGHT BOX
Repeated efficacy across years is a key indicator of biological robustness.
QUOTE BOX
“Seeing comparable results in different seasons confirms that biological protection is not dependent on a single set of conditions.”
— Ivana Suchánková MSc., CEO Biogama
Yield performance and practical value
Yield assessments in Troubsko showed:
- positive yield response compared to untreated plots,
- no yield penalties linked to biological treatments,
- compatibility with existing spray programs.
For growers, this translates into predictable performance, flexibility in application timing, and confidence in integrating biological tools into standard practice.
DATA BOX
- Suitable for organic and conventional systems
- Zero residue increase
- No pre-harvest interval
- Fully compatible with IPM programs
The Troubsko trials from 2021 and 2022 confirm that biological crop protection based on Pythium oligandrum can deliver consistent, repeatable results against Sclerotinia sclerotiorum.
By maintaining efficacy across seasons, biological solutions prove their role as a stable component of modern, sustainable oilseed rape production.
Looking for proven, multi-year results from biological solutions?