Biological Control Strategies in Apple Trees

Executive Summary

The production of pome fruit trees (apples and pears) constitutes a socio-economic activity of great importance for Argentina, Chile and Uruguay. The “apple moth” Cydia pomonella (L.) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), an exotic pest for the region, constitutes one of the most frequent limitations for the production of this fruit crop. The strategies tried so far to minimize the negative impact of this pest have been based exclusively on the use of pesticides; however, the apparent streamlining in their use (use of alarm systems, selective insecticides, etc.), have caused serious inconveniences such as: resurgence of pests, appearance of new ones, increasing contamination of the environment (soil and water), market losses due to high levels of residues in fruit and health problems in the population. So far, the fruit producer has no alternative to chemical control to deal with the problem posed by pests.

This considered, the present research aimed to develop Biological Control (BC) strategies for the key pest of the apple crop (Cydia pomonella (L.), and the relevant secondary pests (eg, leaf reels) by using entomophages.

The technological solution

• Selection of native and exotic entomophages and entomopathogens and development of experimental mass production techniques for the selected entomophages / entomopathogens (EN).
• Development of CB strategies for C. pomonella (Cp) and the most relevant secondary pests, based on the use of the selected ENs.
• Evaluation of the CB strategies developed and their compatibility with other control alternatives (sex pheromones, promoters of the feeding, etc.) within an integrated pest management (IPM) system.
• Economic validation and the strategies developed
  

Results

Beneficiaries

Pear and apple growers from Argentina, Chile and Uruguay

Sustainable Development Goals

Main donors

Dissemination products