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 Sep 2024
September 12th, ANA Chile® held the fifth edition of ExpoCerezos 2024, where participants were able to learn about the advances in technical knowledge of new cherry varieties that are already in the commercial phase in Chile, in order to achieve the best fruit potential.
16 May 2025
Cherry farming offers strong growth potential for the fruit sector in Piedmont. Explore early, mid, and late-season cultivars, with data on productivity, agronomic traits, and economic benefits for local farms and supply chains in the region.
14 Apr 2026
Mendoza strengthens its position in the early cherry market through advanced production strategies, agronomic innovation and public-private collaboration. The international seminar highlights concrete opportunities to improve efficiency, quality and global competitiveness.
14 Apr 2026
New Royal Tioga cherry orchards in Greece’s Edessa region show very high productivity from the earliest years. Early fruit thinning is essential to balance vegetative growth and yield, preventing tree stress and ensuring consistent production and orchard performance over time.
