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Innovative concept for the production of apple free of pesticide residues - supplementary investigations
Project
Project code: REFORDAT-182, II-A 1 F 41.2013.07
Contract period: 01.06.2013
- 01.05.2014
Budget: 41,106 Euro
Purpose of research: Applied research
In order to reduce or avoid pesticide residues in apple fruit production, innovative crop protection strategies were outlined. These determine the temporal change from application of chemical fungicides and insecticides to the agents of organic production at different stages of flower and early fruit development, respectively (time component), thus preventing a direct contact of the fruits with pesticide chemicals (spatial component). Crop protection measures according to integrated and organic production, were applied as control treatments. As opposed to similar projects at Research Stations in Austria and Switzerland, our project proposed for prolongation, strictly relies on modern fresh market apple cultivars with significance for supraregional markets. Our experiments so far showed that with implementation of the hybrid strategies pesticide residues in the fruit could be avoided. Depending on the cultivar, there was a tendency of higher yields, when increasing input of chemicals according to integrated production. When only agents of organic production were used, this resulted in best fruit coloration and less sunburn incidence. Further potential impact of the plant protection strategy on fruit quality is expected after storage and during the subsequent shelf life period, respectively. Apart from yield, fruit quality is of predominant significance for marketability of produce. In this context, our previous results need to be reproduced prior to drawing final conclusions and allowing recommendations relevant for fruit industry and extension services.
Section overview
Subjects
- Arboriculture
