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
26 May 2025
CherryTech 2025 will bring together over 1,800 professionals from the cherry industry for a full day of technical talks, varietal innovation, digital farming strategies, networking, and cutting-edge solutions to face the upcoming challenges of the global cherry market.
01 Jun 2023
The cultivation of the Moretta di Vignola cherry has ancient and well-established origins in the Emilia (Italy) region. This cherry has phenolic substance contents that are absolutely comparable to those of fruits that are better known for their beneficial properties, such as ber
24 Aug 2026
Cherry quality is determined long before harvest. Fruit development, cell number, cuticle, firmness, water status, sugars, pigmentation and ripening interact throughout growth to define fruit size, final quality and the postharvest performance of sweet cherries.
24 Aug 2026
Organo-mineral fertilization in mountain cherry orchards improves soil fertility, increases nutrient efficiency and reduces field operations. This strategy can lower production costs, support cherry quality and promote greater long-term profitability for growers.
