»Integrated pest management in apple orchards«
Pests are a major problem in the growth of apples and these need to be addressed for improved quantity and quality of apples produced.
Fruit growers do their best to ensure that fruits are produced in a a way that is environmentally, socially and economically sustainable. Regular field scouting and weather monitoring are key in achieving production goals of soil and water management and reducing pesticide use. Routine monitoring and use of pheromone traps will help you minimize sprays.
European red mite
This is a major pest of apples and can quickly build in numbers because it has 8 to 10 generations a year and can be controlled using miticides.
A quick way of determining mite levels in your field is using a magnifying hand lens or head piece magnifier to determine the percentage of mite affected trees.
T pyri is a predatory mite used as a biological control agent used to control the mites and can reduce use of miticides 90%
Apple scab disease
This can cause losses of up to 70% or greater if not controlled. The losses result directly from fruit infections or indirectly from repeated defoliation which can reduce tree growth and yield.
Start scouting for lesions 10 to 14 days after bud break. Follow a W pattern in each block of trees when monitoring. Evaluate 10 trees by examining 20 leaves per tree and record the number of trees showing any scab lesions.
Begin with the flower buds where early infection is most likely to be noticed, Observe the under part of the leaves.
Apple scab infection appears as brown lesions which appear darker as they age.
