When we talk about European hazelnut cultivation, we encounter a worrying reality: there are invisible enemies that attack the very heart of the tree. These diseases, known as wood diseases , act like a silent trap, undermining the plant's health from within and seriously compromising the viability of orchards.
In the specific case of Chile, this crop has experienced impressive growth, reaching approximately 49.264 hectares by 2025. This rapid growth, concentrated mainly between the Maule and Los Lagos Regions, makes it essential to focus on plant health and successful agricultural management so that economic success is not lost due to unforgiving fungi.
How do these fungi affect the tree?
The problem lies in the fact that wood-decay fungi cause necrosis which, combined with the plant's own defenses, eventually obstructs the vascular system . Imagine that the pipes through which water and minerals travel from the roots to the branches become clogged; the result is a hydraulic chaos that deprives the reproductive structures of supplies, directly translating into a drop in yield and very poor fruit quality.
These diseases are especially dangerous because they are "silent." They don't give any obvious warning signs until the damage is already done, weakening the tree and leaving it more vulnerable to other pathogens . In the worst cases, the result is the premature death of the plant, forcing the farmer to spend money and time on unplanned replacements.
Economic impact and environmental factors
To give an idea of ​​the magnitude of the problem, other crops such as grapevines have experienced yield losses of up to 80%. In fruit trees like apple and plum, the fungus Chondrostereum purpureum has caused production drops of between 40% and 66%. Hazelnut trees are not immune to this risk, and given their potential in the central and southern regions, any infection could represent a considerable financial blow.
The worst part is that climate change is actually helping these fungi. Rising temperatures and climate disruptions create the perfect conditions for spores to be released and spread more easily. Furthermore, the water and heat stress that trees are experiencing makes them much more vulnerable, opening the door to pathogens.
Strategies for fighting and controlling
To combat this problem, it is vital to understand that not all fungi are the same; some are polyphagous (attacking any woody species) and others are more specific. Therefore, in-depth research is being conducted to identify the virulence of the strains that most affect hazelnut trees in south-central Chile, analyzing which varieties are most susceptible and which are more resistant to attack.
- Pathogen identification: Knowing exactly which fungus is attacking allows you to apply the correct treatment.
- Critical moments: To detect the time windows where the risk of infection is highest in order to act preventively.
- Chemical and biological control: Testing the effectiveness of fungicides to find the most sustainable and effective alternative.
- Knowledge transfer: Bringing science from the laboratory to the field through field days and technical seminars.
The key lies in preventing the infection from taking hold. By combining the use of resistant varieties with rigorous control of infection periods, production can be protected. Current science seeks not only to cure but also to prevent, integrating biological and chemical management to ensure that the European hazelnut remains a profitable and healthy economic driver.
Integrated management of wood-decay fungi is the only way to prevent vascular obstruction from reducing the productivity of the European hazelnut, especially in a context of such aggressive surface growth and increasingly unpredictable climates that favor the spread of spores and weaken the natural resistance of the trees.