News about Defence

Response to climate change: cherries under greenhouse for protection and minimum treatments

Covers

30 May 2024

‘Thanks to the protection, the cherries are safe, the number of treatments is 75% less than in the open field,’ says Moreno Morisi, ‘the quality is excellent and the production is without residues. And I have the guarantee of harvesting as much as budgeted’.

Fungicides and biological solutions for cherry tree defense

Quality

23 May 2024

Fungicides like Serenade Aso produce a series of natural compounds with specific activities on pathogens and plant defense. Lipopeptides and antibacterial compounds typical of the strain break down cell walls of fungi and bacteria, causing death and preventing contamination.

Mode of action of Calcium in reducing macrocracking of sweet cherry fruit

Tech management

15 May 2024

The objective of the German study was to identify the physiological mechanism through which Ca reduces rain macrocracking (rain cracking) in sweet cherry fruit. Results demonstrate that multiple applications of CaCl2 were not effective in decreasing fruit macrocracking.

The use of ethyl propionate may bring results against the dreaded Drosophila suzukii

Crop protection

26 Apr 2024

A study conducted at the NIAB in East Malling and the NIR at the University of Greenwich (UK) determined whether repellents, formulated in specially designed controlled-release dispensers, could reduce damage to strawberries caused by D. suzukii under semi-field conditions.

Washington State University's insights for preventing bacterial canker

Crop protection

02 Apr 2024

The pathogen infects many plant species and survives on the leaf surface of many weeds found on orchard floors. It is known for being epiphytic, which means that pathogen colonization can occur on any plant tissue without provoking infection or symptoms.

Dormancy and leaf fall: underlying factors and their importance for the productivity of the orchard

Tech management

27 Mar 2024

In years when leaf fall is irregular, it is not possible to have good disease control management, as waiting for certain levels of leaf fall leaves orchards uncovered and with permanent conditions that favour infection.

INSTINCT project: Laimburg Centre and Bozen University on the development of new smart solutions against harmful insects

Press review

08 Mar 2024

The project involves the development of traps using new attractants, smart sensors and artificial intelligence. The aim is to minimise the use of insecticides in agriculture with a more environmentally and economically sustainable strategy.

Monitoring bud temperatures to prevent damage from spring frosts

Press review

29 Feb 2024

Knowing the critical temperature at which buds are killed is crucial for taking timely action against frost. Cold hardiness models use air temperature as a predictive factor for specific critical temperatures of the cultivar.

Washington State University proposes work plan to prevent and combat X-disease

Press review

28 Feb 2024

Welcome Sauer, an orchard analyst working with the university, hopes to distribute the model in the form of a workbook, so as to adjust the basic numbers for orchard operating costs to an economic model for X-disease mitigation.