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.
Argentina expects a production of over 12,000 tons for the current season, with an export of about 8,000 tons; a volume that represents only 1.2% of the neighboring Chile's total exports
The total Tru-Cape crop dropped from an estimated 520 tons to just over 400 tons due to unfavorable weather conditions, especially during flowering and fruit set, also blamed on a frost wave in September that affected several producers.
In Spain’s Jerte Valley, genomic selection is speeding up cherry breeding: Cicytex and Agrupación de Cooperativas Valle del Jerte will work through 2030 on 1,000 trees and around 110 varieties to identify fruit quality, ripening and market suitability earlier using DNA.
Effective cherry blossom management improves pollination, fruit set and size. From beehives, Bombus colonies and pollen to auxin, cytokinin and fungicide applications, these key strategies help support yield, fruit quality and crop health throughout flowering season.