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Establishing a strategy to reduce the investment of copper for scab control in organic apple growing
Project
Project code: 2806OE324
Contract period: 01.03.2008
- 31.03.2011
Budget: 268,000 Euro
Purpose of research: Applied research
The apple scab (Venturia inaequalis) is still a major problem for organic apple growers. Therefore a consequent scab control is necessary. At present no equivalent alternatives are available for cop-per and sulphur products. The aim of the project is to optimize the existing strategies by decreas-ing the amount of copper while still realizing an effective scab control. A control strategy should be established which works with copper free products or products with less copper content. Therefore it is necessary to compile the parameter of the alternative products. In consideration of the asco-spore potential, the phenological growth stage of the host plant, and the potential of the plant pro-tection product in all situations an advice for a control strategy with less copper should be estab-lished. Field trials will be run at three different sites (KoGa, KÖN, KOB, LfL). The geographical dis-tribution ensures that regional climatic differences in west, east, north and south Germany will be considered. The regional climatic differences as well as the intensity of scab infestation are impor-tant to side effects of the products such as russeting. Before testing in the field the effect of the products to scab will be examined in laboratory. Therefore the in-vivo test system of the University of Konstanz for verification of fungicide resistance of scab will be used. The test system facilitates investigation the efficacy of organic plant protection products before testing them in the field. The rate of application and the optimal time of application during the infecting period will be figured out for an optimal efficacy. Products promising good efficacies will be tested at different sites under field conditions.
Section overview
Subjects
- Crop Protection
- Arboriculture
- Agroecology
- Organic Farming
Framework programme
Federal Organic Farming Scheme and other forms of sustainable agriculture (BÖLN)
