Spotted Wing Drosophila, a well-known pest that infests ripe, ready-to-eat fruit, poses a significant threat to farmers because it is very difficult to control with standard pesticides. A new approach to tackling this pest involves manipulating the behavior of these insects by disguising healthy fruit as if it were infected with an unappealing pathogen.
By studying the specific odors emitted by infected fruit, researchers have identified the chemicals that repel the flies when applied to healthy fruit and are developing a slow-release device to disperse these fruity odors in the field, ensuring that they do not come into direct contact with the fruit. This method provides a new tool to help farmers protect their crops without relying exclusively on insecticides.
Source: USDA
Image: USDA
25 Apr 2024
‘We are preparing to see cherry growth a little earlier than expected this season,’ says Jon Hillary, Driscoll's cherry product manager. ‘The forecast is for an early start, but it will depend on a sunnier spring.
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Turkey’s cherry sector is heading for a stronger export year, driven by a plentiful crop and a longer season in the Western Mediterranean. Demand from Europe, Russia, the Middle East and Asia remains central, while new initiatives target wider access to China for exporters.
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Winter cherry tree pruning regulates crop load, renews fruiting wood and improves fruit size and quality. Key techniques include bud fertility assessment, branch renewal, training system management and pruning-cut protection to maintain productive, balanced and healthy trees.
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Chile’s cherry season is set to be challenging as rain, humidity and temperature shifts favor Botrytis, Alternaria and other pathogens. Check Fast Cherry enables rapid infection monitoring, helping growers protect fruit quality, yields, harvest and postharvest performance.
