THREE YEARS OF EXPERIENCE RUNNING AN AUTOMATIC APPLE DISEASE INFORMATION NETWORK

1. Apple Scab: A simple model based on temperature and relative humidity during the last 20 days is assessing the possibility of ascospore maturation. Infection possibilities are tested during the last three days following the leaf wetness temperature relation published by Wolf Schwabe.
2. Antonomus pomorum: Average temperature during 9 am and 11 am higher then 10°C allowing the flight of this insect. This conditions are indicating flight periods of Antonomus pomorum.
3. Haplocampa testudenia: Accumulated daily temperature on base 10°C higher then 32 are indicating the time between egg laying and egg hedge.
4. Codling Moth and Apple Moths: Evening temperatures higher then 13°C are indicating flight days of the first generation. Evening temperatures higher then 15°C are indicating egg laying days of the first generation. Morning temperatures are indicating the same for different other moths.

The system supervisor has to indicate if the programm should run in ascospore mode andlor in conidia mode proving the possibilies of apple scab infections. The supervisor has to indicate if the system should look for flight of Antvnomus pomorum, and Codling Moth, or if the system should look for Haplocampa testudenia egg maturation.

Agricultural electronic weather stations like METOS from Pessl Instruments were first developed as in field scab warning computers 13 years ago. With the success of personal computers during the early nineties this systems changed to data loggers. The calculation of disease models has moved from the weather station to the PC. This has leaded to a range of highly sophisticated apple scab programs like RimPro® or Adam®. These programs are wide spread and well accepted by all growers which are used to work with personal computers. Neverthe.less there is a big group of apple growers which are not used to work with computers. Small or mid sized growers doing a good job growing apples are making their income with there field work. They will not use computers because of the small economic benefits they could earn by computers.

This project was started by the private apple production advisor Andreas Berger and Pessl Instruments to support this growers with the benefits of electronic weather stations. The project wants to support our local apple growers with weather and pest and disease information. In detail we are delivering our clients with:

• Weather data for orchard management (chemical thinning)
• Date and severity of apple scab infection
• flight periods of Antonomus pomorum
• Haplocampa Testudenia egg hedge

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