ISHS Acta Horticulturae 422: International Conference on Integrated Fruit Production
DEVELOPMENT OF AN INTEGRATED AND BIOLOGICAL FRUIT GROWING SYSTEM FOR SCAB RESISTANT APPLE CULTIVARS. |
| Author: | A.M.E. Schenk |
| Abstract:
In order to find ways to reduce pesticide use, research was started in 1989 by the Research Station for Fruit Growing to develop a system for integrated fruit growing. The aim of this research was to develop an integrated fruit growing system as it is described by the IOBC definition (Cross and Dickler, 1994) i.e. an economical production of high quality fruit that safeguards the environment and human health. Through this research it became clear that a substantial reduction of pesticide use can only be achieved with a reduction of fungicide use. Reducing fungicide use causes big economical losses because of high incidence of apple scab. Several methods have been experimented to deal with the scab problem but until now no good solution has been found. A way to reduce fungicide use without high scab infestation is the breeding and growing of scab resistant apple cultivars. As a growing system with only resistant cultivars is treated with little fungicide, it is completely different from the current growing system. It is therefore necessary to develop a growing system for it. The Research Station for Fruit Growing initiated a new research project in 1993, in which an integrated and biological fruit growing system for scab resistant apple cultivars will be developed. Three fields (each of about one hectare) were planted with resistant cultivars. In one field, an integrated growing system for resistant cultivars and in another field, a biological system will be developed, according to the european guidelines for biological fruit growing. In the third field detailed research will be done on specific problems that may occur like "new" diseases that can appear in a system with very low level of fungicide use. Description of this research and preliminary results are described. | |
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