In California, Drosophila suzukii, known as SWD, is developing increasing resistance to insecticides. This insect has become a problem for cherry, sugar cane and strawberry growers since its arrival in 2008, spreading to other states in the USA, Mexico and Europe.
SWD females, thanks to their serrated ovipositor, can even lay their eggs in hard-skinned fruits, damaging them. This leads to increased susceptibility to insects and diseases, as pointed out by the University of Minnesota Extension.
Entomologist Jhalindra Rijal conducted studies on SWD in cherries and revealed that resistance problems developed rapidly. Management practices based on spinosin, pyrethroids and malathion contributed to this resistance due to the limited use of active ingredients.
The inability to vary active ingredients has led to increasing resistance among SWD populations, not only in California but also in other regions of the US, such as Georgia and Michigan, which have experienced similar problems. Scientific studies have shown a significant decrease in the susceptibility of SWD adults to various insecticides, resulting in lower than expected mortality. Spinosad resistance has been widespread on the Central Coast.
Fonte: Farm Progress
Foto: Italian Berry
29 Aug 2024
To achieve year-round production, Pairwise is drawing inspiration from blueberries and working to change the environmental requirements for growing cherries. It took decades of breeding to develop blueberries, but Adams believes that gene editing can help accelerate the process.
03 Sep 2024
The aim of an investigation conducted in the Czech Republic was to identify molecular markers that could be relied upon to predict the onset of flowering in sweet cherries by creating an assay that analysed the identified molecular markers in a single reaction.
29 May 2026
From Carlo Petrini to the Slow Food Presidia, the future of cherry growing depends on biodiversity. Vignola Moretta Cherry shows an agricultural model that resists global standardization, linking Europe, Turkey and resilient local territories against intensive monocultures.
29 May 2026
Rivoira Group launches Skylar Rae, a premium bicolor cherry without stems, bringing the CherryBerry concept to Italy and Europe. Designed as a crunchy, ready-to-eat natural snack, it debuts commercially in June 2026 across Italy, Germany and selected overseas markets as well.
