NOGALL

CROWN GALL (Root Cancer) Disease

What is Crown Gall?

Crown gall is a plant disease caused by the bacterium Agrobacterium tumefaciens, which can survive in soil for up to 40 years.

Over time, this disease first leads to significant yield losses in plants and eventually causes trees to dry out and die completely within 2–4 years.

Which Plants Are Affected by Crown Gall?

• Stone fruits (peach, cherry, sour cherry, apricot, etc.)
• Nut trees (walnut, almond, etc.)
• Pome fruits (apple, pear, etc.)
• Ornamental plants (rose, daisy, gerbera, etc.)

Why is Crown Gall Difficult to Control?

The bacterium Agrobacterium tumefaciens can survive in soil and in the root zone of weeds for up to 40 years without being harmed. It spreads rapidly through irrigation water, soil cultivation tools, and human activity in agricultural fields.

Once the bacterium enters the plant tissue, there is no curative treatment available.

Is There a Chemical Solution?

Due to the nature of the pathogen, once it enters the plant through wounds, it cannot be controlled chemically. Therefore, control is only possible through preventive measures before infection occurs.

What is NOGALL and When Should It Be Used?

Nogall is a licensed biological plant protection product containing Agrobacterium radiobacter strain K1026, a natural antagonist of Agrobacterium tumefaciens, the cause of crown gall.

It is used strictly for preventive purposes only, starting from seed sowing, during all stages of seedling production, and before planting in new orchards.

How Does NOGALL Work Against Crown Gall?

• It rapidly colonizes the root zone, protecting roots like a “biological armor”
• Competes with pathogens for nutrients such as carbohydrates, amino acids, and oxygen, reducing their survival chances
• Produces antibiotics such as Agrocin 84, Agrocin 434, and ALS84, which directly kill the pathogenic bacteria

Usage and Dosage

Seed Treatment:

• 250 g NOGALL per 22 kg of seed
• Seeds are immersed in the prepared solution for 1–2 minutes
• Seeds must be planted immediately after treatment

Rootstock (seedling) Treatment:

• 250 g NOGALL can treat 2,000–7,000 rootstocks depending on size
• Bare roots are dipped in a 12 L solution for 1 minute
• Planting is done immediately after treatment

Tissue-cultured or potted seedlings:

• 250 g NOGALL can treat 1,500–5,000 seedlings
• Solution volume should be sufficient to wet each root system

New orchard establishment:

• 250 g package can treat 200–700 seedlings depending on size
• Bare-root plants are treated by dipping
• For potted seedlings, 40–100 L of solution is applied directly to the root zone

Frequency of Use

• Applied only once, before planting or sowing

Compatibility

Can be mixed with:

• Benomyl
• Iprodione
• Metalaxyl
• Methyl thiophanate
• Propamocarb
• Triadimefon

Must NOT be used with:

• Captan
• Chlorinated water
• Dazomet
• Dichlofluanid
• Dodine (Melprex)
• Guazatine (Panoctine)
• TMTD
• Truban
• Zineb (Curit)
• Streptomycin (Agristrep)
• Mancozeb (Dithane)

Storage Conditions

• Store in a cool, dry place
• Protect from high temperatures and direct sunlight
• Shelf life: 6 months at room temperature, 1 year at +4°C

Important Notes

• NOGALL is officially registered for peach and cherry
• Prefer seedlings previously treated with NOGALL when purchasing planting material
• In vineyards, crown gall is caused by Agrobacterium vitis; therefore, NOGALL is not recommended for grapes
• The package is single-use and cannot be reused or stored after opening
• Prepared solution may be kept for up to 24 hours in a cool, shaded place
• For potted seedlings, application can be done via soil drench depending on plant number