Olive is an extremely important crop for Mediterranean basin countries, including Portugal. The olive fly, Bactrocera oleae (Rossi), and anthracnose, mainly caused by species from the fungi Colletotrichum spp., are key constraints to olive production through their effects on olives.
Strategies for controlling this pest and disease, which frequently occur at the same time, are mostly based on the use of chemical pesticides. This project exploits the use of native olive-associated fungi for the induction of plant resistance/defense to both olive fly and anthracnose.